NHS Lanarkshire’s Public Health Team is investigating a small number of confirmed cases of hepatitis A in the Cumbernauld area.
Two of the cases are children, one child attends a local school and the other child attends a local nursery.
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.”
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months.
It is usually spread by poor hygiene after using the toilet (the faecal-oral route) especially in young children or individuals who do not maintain good personal, hygiene but can also be spread through contaminated food.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis A disease include:
- a flu-like illness
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- fever
- diarrhoea
- dark pee
- pale stools
- abdominal pains, and/or
- jaundice
Dr Alison Smith-Palmer, Consultant in Public Health, said: “As a precautionary measure, we are offering the vaccine to not only the children and staff who attend or work at the school or nursery, but also their close family members.
“Good hand hygiene is important in reducing the risk of spread of the virus.”
More information on hepatitis A is available at
If anyone have any concerns regarding hepatitis A please contact your local Health Protection Team on 01698 752952.
