Moi Girls' High School Mbiruri in Embu County was on Friday closed indefinitely after 10 students tested positive for Hepatitis A virus.
Confirming the closure of the school, Embu County Education boss James Kiaru revealed that the situation had been contained by health experts, noting that a ‘health-break’ was necessary to help establish the main cause of the disease outbreak.
However, health officials in the county suspect that the disease might have been triggered by students consuming either contaminated food or water.
Joan Mwende, the Embu County CeC for health, who was also present during the closure of the school, stated that all students will be required to produce a full medical report from a public health facility when they report back after the health break.
At least ten students who tested positive for the virus were admitted at the Embu Children’s Hospital Tenri.
Amid the reports, Mayo Clinic explains that Hepatitis A is a contagious disease that is caused by the hepatitis A virus which affects the liver.
The virus is one of the various types of hepatitis viruses that leads to inflammation and affects the liver's ability to function well.
One is most likely to contract hepatitis A virus from contaminated foods or even water or from contact with an infected person or objects.