A pupil at a primary school in Manchester has been diagnosed with a form of typhoid.
The youngster, who attends Abbott Community Primary in Collyhurst, is said to be recovering well after being struck down by the rare illness.
It is understood that the child goes to the school’s nursery, on Livesey Street, and doctors are investigating whether the pupil became unwell after an overseas visit.
Health officials said all parents of pupils at the school had been told of the outbreak by letter – and warned to look out for symptoms.
The child is suffering from paratyphoid, a milder form of typhoid, which is usually picked up abroad.
It is caused by salmonella bacteria and it is often contracted by drinking water, which has been contaminated by sewage.
Paratyphoid can be spread by eating food or drinking beverages which have been handled by an infected person.
Headteacher Heather Riley said: “We’ve followed health advice throughout on this. Our thoughts now are with the pupil who we understand is continuing to make a good, speedy recovery.”
A spokesman for the Health Protection Agency North West said the illness was rare in Britain, with just six cases in Greater Manchester this year and 18 last year. all were travel-related.
He added: “We can confirm that a child who attends Abbott Community Primary School in the Collyhurst district of Manchester has been diagnosed with paratyphoid. the child is not in school and will stay off until fully recovered.
“It is extremely unlikely that anyone else in the school will be affected, but as a precautionary measure all pupils and staff have been given information on the infection and symptoms to look out for. most cases of paratyphoid in the UK are associated with overseas travel.”
THE DANGER SIGNS AND HOW TO STAY SAFE:
Each year there are about 300 cases of typhoid in Britain, mainly among people who have visited friends and family in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The illness usually lasts for three weeks, but may be longer in a small number of cases.
Most patients with paratyphoid recover completely after being treated with antibiotics but intestinal complications can result in death.
Symptoms include fever, headache, rash, stomach pains, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, severe constipation, nausea and cough.
The Health Protection Agency advice for avoiding paratyphoid is:
- Wash your hands carefully using soap, hot water and clean towels. This is most important after going to the toilet and before preparing a meal or eating.
- If you have an infection, you should avoid cooking for others while you are on treatment. if it is unavoidable that you have to cook, it is important that you wash your hands before preparing the meal or a drink and before eating.
- Hand-washing is especially important when travelling abroad.
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