Two cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed among pupils at two Newcastle primary schools, leading health officials to issue warnings and guidance to parents.

The cases were identified at Benton Park Primary and Central Walker Primary. Letters have now been sent home to families at both schools containing public health advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

If you have children at either school, the immediate reassurance from health officials is that the broader risk remains low. UKHSA North East has confirmed that the risk to other pupils, staff and the wider public is low, and that there is currently no evidence of the infection spreading within either school.

Hepatitis A is a contagious viral infection that attacks the liver. It is usually contracted by consuming food or drink contaminated with microscopic traces of faeces from an infected person, but it can also pass directly from person to person.

Jonathan Lawler, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA North East, said officials are stepping in to support the schools. "We are working with both schools and other relevant partners to ensure all necessary public health actions are carried out," he said.

Explaining how the virus behaves, Lawler said: "Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver. The virus is usually acquired by eating food or drinking water that has been contaminated with the virus and also can be spread from person to person."

He pointed out that poor hand hygiene is often the primary driver of transmission. "Hepatitis A is present in the faeces (poo) of an infected person and can be passed to others if the ill person accidentally contaminates another person, food, water or the bathroom, toilet or towels, as a result of poor hand washing. The infection can then be picked up on other people's hands and transferred to their mouth."

Both Benton Park Primary and Central Walker Primary remain open. Lawler confirmed that "the schools are working with partners and following health protection advice to increase hygiene measures to prevent transmission," with an emphasis placed on strict handwashing.

Parents have been advised to watch for key symptoms. These include a high temperature, flu-like signs such as tiredness, headache and muscle aches, as well as tummy ache. Other notable symptoms include dark urine, unusually pale stools, and jaundice, which causes yellowing of the skin and eyes.

According to reporting by Chronicle Live, most people who catch hepatitis A make a complete recovery. Newcastle City Council declined to comment on the cases, directing all enquiries to the public health team.

What we do not know yet is where the two pupils originally contracted the virus, or whether any further cases will emerge. The Mirror has contacted both Benton Park Primary and Central Walker Primary for comment. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.