SURREY, B.C. — An elementary school in Surrey, B.C., will hold a second vaccination clinic after an outbreak of hepatitis A.
Dr. Helena Swinkels of Fraser Health says about 75 per cent of students and staff have been contacted while North Ridge Elementary is on spring break.
She says vaccinations are being offered today and will also be available next week when classes resume for anyone who may have been away.
She says hepatitis A is spread through contamination with stool and can cause diarrhea, vomiting and jaundice but children under five often do not have symptoms.
Swinkels says health officials believe the virus was transmitted from one family with several children at the school.
She says it is often spread from someone who has travelled to developing parts of the world, including South Asia, and that people should get vaccinated before going there.
