Children among confirmed hepatitis A cases as outbreak in Cumbernauld continues

Two children are among a number of cases of confirmed hepatitis A being dealt with by NHS Lanarkshire.

The health board says it is continuing to investigate a “small number” of cases in the Cumbernauld area.

Two of the cases involve children, with one child attending a local school and the other attending a local nursery.

Staff, children, and their close family members have been advised to get the hepatitis A vaccine as a “precautionary measure”.

The health board’s public health team first issued an alert on August 8 stating that a number of cases had been confirmed in the area.

It’s not known how many cases have been confirmed in total and whether they are on the rise.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection that can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.

The virus is usually spread through contaminated food or water, or close contact with an infected person.

Some people with hepatitis A, particularly young children, don’t have any symptoms.

Symptoms usually develop around four weeks after exposure to the virus.

Dr Alison Smith-Palmer, consultant in public health, said: “We are working with the school and the nursery and we are in regular contact with the cases and their families. To protect patient confidentiality, we will not be providing any further information about the school, nursery or any of the cases.

“We are strongly recommending that the staff and children who attend the school and nursery and their close family members, those who live in the same household, receive the hepatitis A vaccine.”

The health board previously urged local residents in Cumbernauld to be aware of the symptoms and signs of hepatitis A infection and to seek medical attention if they are experiencing any symptoms.

Hepatitis A symptoms include: