Hepatitis A outbreak at kindergarten
A HEPATITIS A outbreak in Oamaru that has affected three children from the same kindergarten appears to be contained, the doctor investigating the cases says.
The children, from two families, attend Edna McCulloch Kindergarten, part of the Oamaru Kindergarten Association.
It was confirmed yesterday Public Health South is investigating the cases and working with the kindergarten to determine if any other families have been affected.
Southern District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid confirmed the children, who have been cleared to return to the Arun St kindergarten, were not there at the time they were infectious and that the kindergarten remained open.
He met parents and kindergarten staff yesterday to discuss the issue and testing for further cases.
‘‘We are going to do some blood testing on Tuesday of the children and the staff at the kindergarten.
‘‘What I want to do is get an understanding of whether these three cases are the extent of the outbreak or whether any other children or staff have been affected.’’
He said the board would offer a vaccination next Thursday and Friday as a control measure for those children and staff.
‘‘If, in the blood testing, we get any evidence that children or staff have been exposed to hepatitis A, then we will investigate them as further cases.
‘‘There is a chance that that might happen.
‘‘The reason I want to do this is to get a feel . . . whether there is a risk to the population more widely in Oamaru.’’
While the source of the infection had yet to be identified, it was possible it had been imported from overseas.
Oamaru Kindergarten Association general manager Julie Craig was unable to be reached for comment.
Hepatitis A is a viral illness that is not common in New Zealand.
It can be contracted by eating or drinking food or water which is contaminated, while infection can also be spread by close contact with an infected person.
Symptoms include the sudden onset of an illness with tiredness, fever, nausea and abdominal pain for a few days followed by jaundice and, at times, dark urine.
The illness can be prevented through good hand hygiene — washing hands before and after preparing food, and after going to the toilet.
No other educational facilities are thought to be affected.