TWO schools in Richmondshire are being offered vaccinations for Hepatitis A following on from an outbreak of the illness in Ripon.

There have now been 20 cases connected to Outwood Academy and one linked to the So! Bar and Eats venue in Ripon.

In their latest update, Public Health England (PHE) say seven cases were confirmed in the wider community, although officials say the risk to the public remains low.

Dr Suzanne Coles, consultant in communicable disease control at PHE, said one of the recently confirmed cases is known to attend Middleham Primary School.

The school is being offered vaccinations, along with children at Spennithorne Primary School which recently took part in shared activities with Middleham School.

Dr Coles said: “I understand that the confirmation of further cases in the community may be of concern, but it’s important to remember that the risk remains low. NHS services are identifying cases of Hepatitis A and providing care promptly and those affected are recovering.

"Their household contacts are being followed up to reduce the risk of the infection spreading. Hepatitis A is usually a mild illness, though it can be more serious in adults."

Hepatitis A is transmitted by eating food or drinking water containing the virus.

It is a liver infection and is uncommon in the UK, but certain groups are at increased risk.

The NHS advises that although Hepatitis A can be 'unpleasant', it is not usually serious and most people make a full recovery within a couple of months.

Some people, particularly young children, may not have any symptoms.