Hepatitis A affects five in city

Parents of children at two nurseries are being urged to have them vaccinated against hepatitis A after four children and an adult caught the disease.

The children were carrying the infection at Moor House, which has premises in the Earlsdon and Chaplefields areas of Coventry.

It is not known how or where the children contracted the disease.

Hepatitis A, which is an infection of the liver, is estimated to affect up to 10 million people worldwide each year.

Mary Carvell, principal of the Moor House Nursery in Earlsdon, said: "We were recently notified by a parent of the nursery that their child had been diagnosed with the hepatitis A virus. A further child was diagnosed the following day.

"We immediately notified the public health department of this and have worked closely with them to introduce further controls to ensure that the problem was contained.

"All parents were notified by letter and were pleased that they were kept so well informed.

"Two children affected with the virus have now returned to the nursery well and happy.

"Whilst we take every precaution at Moor House to ensure the highest standards of hygiene possible amongst our children we cannot legislate for illnesses such as this coming in from outside.

"We will continue to liaise with the public health department for as long as is necessary and would urge parents and the public to be as vigilant as possible."