Viral Hepatitis

Jan 17, 2002 11:01 AM

INTRODUCTION

The United Federation of Teachers prepared this pamphlet to answer questions asked by school staff who are concerned about catching hepatitis from their students or fellow staff members.

The good news is that there is no danger of contracting the hepatitis B or C viruses (which usually are spread by sexual contact or injecting drug use) through normal school activities. However, there is some risk of exposure for school employees such as nurses, special education staff, or school safety officers whose jobs may result in contact with blood or other body fluids. Any staff members called upon to provide first aid in the case of a blood spill also risk exposure to hepatitis B and C unless they follow simple safety precautions that can prevent direct contact with potentially infected blood.

Staff routinely exposed to blood can further protect themselves by taking the hepatitis B vaccine. The Board of Education has promised to provide free vaccines for at-risk staff in compliance with federal and state regulations but had not yet begun to do so at press time (September 1995).

Hepatitis A is spread by oral contact with contaminated fecal matter. Staff working with children who require diapering or assistance with toilet usage are at risk of catching the virus through hand-to-mouth contact. Transmission can be prevented by the thorough cleaning of hands after diapering and before the preparation of food. As explained later, staff who assist children with toileting also may want to consider taking the new hepatitis A vaccine.

This pamphlet describes how all school employees, regardless of job assignment, can minimize the risk of exposure to viral hepatitis.