The outbreak of hepatitis A affecting nine Auckland schools has stabilised, but is not yet over, says the region's public health service.
By yesterday, 30 cases - including probable and confirmed cases - had been reported. There have been no new ones since last Wednesday.
Hepatitis A, a liver disease caused by a virus, is spread from person to person or via food or drink through faecal contamination. The best protection is to wash and dry hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before eating.
Symptoms can include feeling generally unwell, vomiting, diarrhoea, mild fever and jaundice, which results in a yellowing of the skin and eyes. The illness can last for months in adults but is usually milder in children.
People are infectious with the virus for up to two weeks before they start to feel ill and for one week after they develop jaundice.
