Health bosses are working with Newcastle primary schools after two cases of Hepatitis A were reported among pupils.
Parents of students at Benton Park and Central Walker schools were issued letters of guidance and advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) last Thursday.
The agency said the cases were not linked and the risk to the public, other pupils and staff remains low.
Dr Jonathan Lawler, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA, said: “We are working with both schools and other relevant partners to ensure all necessary public health actions are carried out.
“Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. The virus is usually acquired by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the virus and also can be spread from person to person.”
Mr Lawler added: “Hepatitis A is present in the faeces (poo) of an infected person and can be passed to others if the ill person accidentally contaminates another person, food, water or the bathroom, toilet or towels, as a result of poor hand washing. The infection can then be picked up on other people’s hands and transferred to their mouth.
“The schools are working with partners and following health protection advice to increase hygiene measures to prevent transmission.”
The agency stressed that there was no evidence of transmission in either school community.
Hepatitis A can be contracted from drinking unclean water, eating food that's been washed or grown in unclean water or handled by an infected person, or through close physical contact with an infected person.
Symptoms of hepatitis A infection may include fever, flu-like symptoms, such as tiredness, headache, and muscle pains, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or constipation, itchy skin or jaundice.
Most children and some adults will typically show mild or no symptoms, but the virus poses a serious risk to people who are pregnant, over 60, or have a liver condition.
People usually remain infectious for around seven days after the yellowing of the skin and eyes has started, according to the NHS.
The virus is not common in the UK, with a total of 889 confirmed cases in England and Wales in 2024.
In May, there was a localised outbreak in Barry, South Wales, and parents were later urged to get their children vaccinated over the summer holidays.
Vaccines are not routinely offered in the UK and are only recommended for people at high risk of catching or getting seriously ill from hepatitis.
This includes people who have travelled to a country where hepatitis A is common, including parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central and South America.
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