Three children associated with an Oamaru kindergarten have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, the Southern District Health Board has confirmed today.
The children, from two families, attend Edna McCulloch Kindergarten which is part of the Oamaru Kindergarten Association.
No other educational facilities are thought to be affected.
Public Health South are investigating the cases and working with the kindergarten to understand if any other families might be affected and to offer vaccination to the children who attend the kindergarten.
A programme of blood testing and vaccination will take place next week.
SDHB medical officer of health Dr Keith Reid said it was not clear where the infection originated.
He said it was unlikely to be the kindergarten, which remained open.
Dr Reid met parents and kindergarten staff today to discuss the issue and the process involved around the testing.
"We are undertaking this blood testing to get a picture as to whether other families at the kindergarten might be affected, then we can offer them appropriate support and treatment. The vaccination is intended to prevent any spread of the infection,'' he said.
Hepatitis A is a viral illness that is not common in New Zealand.
The virus can be contracted by eating or drinking food or water which is contaminated with the virus, while infection can also be spread by close contact with an infected person.
In young children, it can occur with no outward signs of infection and may be passed on silently.
However, in older adults or those with underlying health conditions the disease can be serious.
The illness occurs between 15 to 50 days after exposure to the virus. In those who become unwell, there is sudden onset of an illness with tiredness and fever, nausea and abdominal pain for a few days and followed by jaundice and/or dark urine.
Those with Hepatitis A can pass on the infection while they are unwell and for a week after the onset of jaundice.
Hepatitis A can be prevented through good hand hygiene - washing hands before and after preparing food and after going to the toilet.
