§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission an investigation into the recent outbreaks of hepatitis A in Liverpool schools.
§ Mr. DorrellThe public health laboratory service communicable disease surveillance centre regularly reports on outbreaks of hepatitis A virus in its communicable disease report (CDR). A recent CDR gave information on a number of family and school outbreaks, including those from the Mersey region, and I understand the centre is investigating the outbreaks fully. Consultants in communicable disease control in Mersey are aware of the problems and have advised appropriate control measures.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of jaundice have been recorded in Liverpool schools in the last two years;
(2) how many cases of hepatitis A have been recorded in Liverpool health authority schools in the past two years.
§ Mr. DorrellWe do not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. J. B. Fitzpatrick, the chairman of Liverpool health authority, for details.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice is given to teaching staff, cleaning staff and parents at schools where there is an outbreak of hepatitis A.
§ Mr. DorrellIt is the responsibility of the directors of public health and environmental health officers jointly to provide advice and guidance, in consultation with community paediatricians or senior community medical officers responsible for community schools health services.
175WIn 1977 advice was issued by the Department of Health and Social Security in the memorandum "Control of Communicable Disease in Schools" which was addressed to individual health authorities and to specialists in community medicine (child health) for them to provide guidance to local education authorities, schools and teachers.
Advice on hepatitis A is also contained in the latest edition of the handbook "Immunisation Against Infectious Disease" which was issued to all doctors in May 1990. Copies are available in the Library.
§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action has been taken to end the outbreak of hepatitis A in Liverpool schools; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellLetters were sent to all general practitioners in Liverpool from the consultant in communicable disease control on 15 January and 24 October suggesting the best medical practice to control hepatitis A. The letters advised general practitioners to exclude all patients from school or work for seven days after onset of jaundice or until clinical recovery.