An outbreak of hepatitis A in Ashburton could now have reached as far South as Oamaru, after three cases of the infectious viral disease were reported in Oamaru - but the source of the outbreak is still a mystery.
Since May, about 20 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in Ashburton, and Southern DHB medical director and medical officer of health Dr Marion Poore said three cases of hepatitis A had now been notified from Oamaru to Public Health South in the past six weeks.
However, Dr Poore said although two 12-year-old children from the Oamaru development swim squad, which uses the aquatic centre pool, had been confirmed as having hepatitis A, ''no obvious source'' had so far been identified.
She said Public Health would try to find the source of the new cases.
''The source of these cases is part of the investigation. One case is linked to the recent outbreak in Ashburton, for the other two cases there is no obvious source.''
The disease, which can cause nausea and jaundice, can be caught through contaminated water or through the faecal to oral route, but Dr Poore said the Waitaki Aquatic Centre was not thought to have been the cause of the Oamaru outbreak.
''The Waitaki Aquatic Centre is operating as required with all testing within appropriate limits. There is no evidence that the pool is the source of these cases of hepatitis A and therefore no increased risk to users of the pool.
''There is no need to avoid using the pool.
''Public Health is taking steps to minimise the risk of further cases. Attention to good personal hygiene and good hand hygiene is the best way of preventing disease.''
The Waitaki District Council-owned aquatic centre cost $3 million to build, and benefited from a further $1.5 million upgrade to meet health and safety requirements about five years ago.
Council recreation manager Eric van der Spek said he had been made aware of the issue late on Tuesday afternoon, and referred comment on the matter to the Southern DHB.
Water tests were carried out every three hours during public opening hours, and he added that he had been advised that there was no risk to other users, and the swimming pool would remain open.
The latest Ashburton cases were in children who either lived in or who were very closely connected to households with an existing hepatitis A case.
Hepatitis A - What is it?
• An acute infectious disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus.
• Spread by faecal-oral route or by ingestion of contaminated food or water, or direct contact with an infected person.
• It has an average incubation period of 28 days.
• Overall case fatality rate is 0.5%. An antibody produced in response to the disease confers life-long protection against reinfection.
• Symptoms of fatigue, fever, nausea, appetite loss, jaundice, and bile in urine can persist for usually less than two months, but can last up to six months.
