Three households in Barry have reported the same strain of hepatitis A, prompting Public Health Wales to investigate a possible local outbreak in the seaside town. The health body confirmed it is working with Cardiff and Vale Health Board and the local council to examine a small number of cases, adding that information about the strain “suggests the infection may be spreading locally.” A team of health experts has been assembled to understand the spread and ensure appropriate action is taken.
Those who have been unwell are “receiving appropriate care and are recovering well,” Public Health Wales said. As a precaution, vaccination has been offered to people who have been in close contact with the infected individuals. The agency has contacted everyone identified as needing a vaccine and thanked local residents for their support during the investigation.
Handwashing urged as key prevention
Public Health Wales has written to parents and carers of children in primary schools in Barry, asking them to be “vigilant with their children’s handwashing to prevent further spread of infection.” Susan Mably, a consultant in health protection for Public Health Wales, stressed that the best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis A is to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. “This is important after using the toilet, changing nappies and before preparing or eating food,” she said.
The agency warned that some young children who are infected may not show any symptoms but can still spread the infection to others, who then become unwell. Parents and carers are advised to help and remind young children to wash their hands properly. Hepatitis A is caused by a virus that spreads through the faeces of an infected person. It can survive on surfaces for several hours and on hands and food for longer. Transmission most commonly occurs via the faecal-oral route: through drinking unclean water, eating food washed or grown in unclean water, eating food handled by an infected person, or through close physical contact including sexual contact and sharing needles for drug use.
Hepatitis A vaccines are not routinely offered in the UK because the risk of getting infected is low, according to NHS guidance. However, vaccination is recommended for those at high risk, including close contacts of someone with the virus, travellers to countries where hepatitis A is common, people with long-term liver disease, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and certain healthcare or sewage workers. The standard immunisation schedule consists of two doses, with the second given six to 12 months after the first for long-term protection; a single dose provides protection for up to 12 months. Individuals do not need to contact their GP to request a vaccine unless they are travelling to a country where hepatitis A is common.
Recognising the symptoms
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. In most cases it is a mild illness, and most people make a full recovery without long-term health problems. There is no specific treatment; care focuses on supporting the body while the immune system fights the infection. Symptoms typically appear 15 to 50 days after infection, with an average incubation period of about 28 days. Young children are often asymptomatic, but those who develop symptoms may experience a high temperature, flu-like symptoms such as tiredness, headache and muscle pains, loss of appetite, feeling sick or being sick, pain in the upper tummy, diarrhoea or constipation, pale yellow or grey poo, dark brown pee, itchy skin sometimes with a rash, and jaundice – yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.
In rare cases, serious liver disease or liver failure can occur; the overall mortality rate is less than 0.1 percent but rises to 40 percent in cases of acute liver failure. Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease in the UK. Around 20 cases are reported in Wales each year, often linked to travel abroad, although past outbreaks have been associated with specific food items such as frozen raspberries and among men who have sex with men.
Public Health Wales advised: “If you or your child feels unwell and has symptoms such as a fever, feeling very tired, a loss of appetite, feeling sick or being sick or have yellow skin or eyes you should contact your GP or NHS 111 Wales.”
