Warning issued to Toowoomba as two test positive for serious virus

Darling Downs Health has issued an alert and will open a pop-up vaccination clinic after two people, including a school student, were active across Toowoomba while infected with Hepatitis A.

Two confirmed cases of Hepatitis A have been reported in the Toowoomba community.

The two people who are currently under the care of the Darling Downs Public Health Unit have been active in the community since they became infectious this year from May 14.

Both patients including a child who reportedly attends Darling Heights State School, reside in the Toowoomba region.

The acute viral infection is highly contagious and most commonly passed on from person to person by the faecal-oral route.

This includes when an uninfected person ingests food or water which has been contaminated by faeces of an infected person.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A includes fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, generalised aches and pains, nausea, lack of appetite, abdominal discomfort and jaundice.

The virus may take up to 50 days since the person was first infected for symptoms to show up.

Anyone who develops symptoms should not return to work, school or childcare and should visit their general practitioner.

Darling Downs Health issued the health alert on June 27 and encouraged the general public to stay alert.

A pop-up vaccination clinic will be held at Darling Heights State School this week to help prevent the virus from spreading.

The vaccination clinic will be open to the public on June 28 and 29 from 7am to 11am and 3pm to 6.30pm, as well as June 30 between 7am and 11am.

Students, staff and family members from the school are encouraged to get the free vaccine and no bookings are required.

Along with the vaccine, members of the public are asked to practise good hygiene and handwashing standards to further prevent the virus from spreading.

For more information visit health.qld.gov.au