ACT Health was alerted of the case yesterday morning through testing and, after an investigation, discovered the patient was a food handler at the high school. This morning, the directorate advised the 1100 students and staff, via email and a letter, of a low risk of catching the virus if they ate food prepared at the school canteen between October 17 and November 4.

“People who recieve a vaccine two weeks after the exposure reduces the change of them developing the disease,” Health Directorate acting chief health officer, Dr Andrew Pengilley told a media conference this morning.

“The usual use of a vaccinne is to give, before they are exposed, long-lasting immunity. The reason you give a person a vaccine is they because it’s a very good vaccine at producing immunity and over two weeks people can get protective levels of antibodies.”

ACT Heath will conduct vaccinations at Lyneham High School on Monday and Tuesday.

Hepatitus A is usually spread when faeces from an infected person contaminates something that is transferred to another person’s mouth. It can occur when a person eats food handled by an infectious person, touches nappies, linen or towels soiled by an infected person, direct contact (including sexual) with an infectious person and contaminated water.

Symptons include stomach pain, loss of appetite and weight loss, nausea and sometime vomiting, fever and chills, mild headache, jaundice and dark urine and pale faeces.

The virus is not related to Hepatitus B or C and won’t cause long-term symptoms.

More information at www.health.act.gov.au/hepatitisa