Hepatitis A cases get jab

Several hundred vaccinations will be provided from today for those at risk from an outbreak of the crippling hepatitis A virus in Christchurch.

Since last month, 25 cases of the disease have been confirmed in Christchurch. Normally the city will have only two or three cases a year.

The disease attacks the liver and causes abdominal discomfort, nausea, fever, and in rare cases can result in liver failure and death.

The common link in the infections diagnosed since December has been the ABC Learning Centre in the suburb of Ferrymead, which cares for about 60 children. Birthday and Christmas functions linked to the centre are believed to have further spread the disease.

Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Mel Brieseman said he expected the figure of 25 confirmed cases to climb.

"We have ascertained that there are a number of other people who are contacts, or contacts of contacts, who have exhibited suggestive symptoms whom we have sent off for blood tests. I will be very surprised if a number of these do not come back positive."

He said the hepatitis A vaccine would be offered to those known to have been in contact with carriers of the virus.