The Midland Health Board has defended its handling of a hepatitis A outbreak in Portlaoise. Cases of the illness have been occurring in the town over the last 18 months. Forty-two cases of hepatitis A have been reported so far this year, mainly affecting children.
Parents have expressed concern at the outbreak. The health board says that despite investigations it has not discovered its cause. The water supply has been checked several times and found to be satisfactory, it says.
Last year, 27 cases were reported in the town. Most particularly affected have been children attending a national school in the town, Scoil Bhride in Knockmay. A teacher in the school also became ill.
Some local people believe the incidence of the illness may be linked to continuing sewerage difficulties in the area and want further investigation to be carried out by Laois County Council.
A health board statement said the board had been active in following up the cases and in looking for the source of infection. "This has been a joint effort by public health doctors, public health nurses and environmental health officers," it said.
Once the board has been notified of a case the family is visited by a public health doctor. Family contacts are offered immunoglobulin to give short-term protection and screened to determine who is susceptible, those with no previous evidence of infection. Those at risk have been offered vaccination.
According to Dr Phil Jennings, the health board's public health specialist, the pattern of the disease indicates it is being passed from person to person. All the children in Scoil Bhride, she said, had been offered screening. "Those who are found to be susceptible to infection have been offered vaccination. To date, 50 per cent of parents have accepted vaccination for their children."
Hepatitis A, she said, was spread by the faecal-oral route. "Personal hygiene is therefore very important in preventing the spread of infection. Careful hand-washing is essential after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food. Children should be supervised while hand-washing as they are very likely to transmit infection."
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus. Dr Jennings said it was a relatively common disease. About 40 per cent of the population would have acquired the infection before they reached 40. "It is generally quite a mild illness. The virus causes inflammation of the liver which can result in jaundice."
Common symptoms include fever, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain or discomfort. Individuals can become infected with the virus without showing any symptoms. This is more common among children. Adults tend to get a more severe form. In general, recovery, without long-term effects or recurrence, is the rule.
Anyone suspecting they may be infected should contact their GP immediately, Dr Jennings said. "The Midland Health Board continue to monitor the situation."