An outbreak has been declared after seven confirmed cases of Hepatitis A in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Public Health Wales said it is investigating.

They said the declaration of an outbreak follows the spread of infection beyond a cluster of five cases that led to recent vaccination sessions in schools in Penarth and Barry.

The two new cases of Hepatitis A are not in children attending either of these schools, and both have direct links to the original five cases.

In May two schools were shut and pupils offered vaccinations after the five cases were confirmed.

The cases include pupils at  Victoria Primary in Penarth  and Palmerston Primary in  Barry  , which were both deep cleaned as a precaution.

Victoria primary school, Penarth

Public Health Wales is working closely with the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the environmental health team at Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) Wales to investigate the outbreak and to offer advice to close contacts of the patients.

Dr Rhianwen Stiff, Consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health Wales, said: “All of the patients confirmed with Hepatitis A can be linked to one another, and there is no evidence of a wider public health risk at this time.

"Hepatitis A is a viral infection that may cause flu-like illness or gastrointestinal upset. Hepatitis A can be unpleasant, but it's not usually serious and most people make a full recovery within a couple of months. Children often only have a very mild illness or do not have symptoms at all.

This is what the NHS website says about Hepatitis A

"Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus that's spread in the poo of the infected person.

"It's uncommon in the UK, but certain groups are at increased risk. This includes travellers to parts of the world with poor levels of sanitation, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs.

"Hepatitis A can be unpleasant, but it's not usually serious and most people make a full recovery within a couple of months. Some people, particularly young children, may not have any symptoms.

"But hepatitis A can occasionally last for many months and, in rare cases, it can be life threatening if it causes the liver to stop working properly (liver failure)."

“The best way to prevent infection spreading is to encourage good hand washing at all times, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.

"Symptoms can include flu-like illness such as tiredness, general aches and pains, headaches and fever, as well as loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pains, jaundice, very dark urine and itchy skin.”

People are advised to contact their own GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 if they have any concerns about their health or their child’s health.