Bakery closed as possible hepatitis link probed

AN Airdrie bakery has shut down as health authorities investigate several cases of hepatitis A which may be linked to it.

JB Christie has closed while NHS Lanarkshire looks into nine confirmed and nine suspected cases of the illness in North Lanarkshire.

The bakery’s owners have contacted the outlets it supplies in North Lanarkshire as well as one in Cambuslang and one in West Lothian asking them to withdraw its products from sale.

Patients have either been discharged or are in Monklands Hospital in Airdrie. All are said to be well and responding to treatment.

NHS Lanarkshire’s Department of Public Health along with North Lanarkshire Council Environmental Health and other agencies are working with the bakery to investigate.

Dr Josephine Pravinkumar, NHS Lanarkshire consultant in public health medicine, said: “Our initial investigations have indicated that there may be a link between these cases and the bakery.

“While the risk is very low, if anyone does experience a flu-like illness, loss of appetite, nausea, fever, abdominal pains or jaundice (a yellowing of the eyes or skin), they should contact NHS24 on 111 or their GP.”

Andrew Chisholm, JB Christie managing director, said: “As soon as we were notified of this possible link, we immediately took the decision to temporarily cease our operations and fully co-operate with environmental health and public health officials.”