Are my kids at risk from infected amah?

Q:WE recently learned that our domestic helper has hepatitis B. She found this out during a routine examination. She doesn't feel sick and has been quite healthy since she has worked for us.

We are really torn about what to do. She cooks and cleans for us and takes care of our two small children while my husband and I work. Can you tell me if my family members are at risk of being exposed to hepatitis B by living in such close quarters? Dr Rose writes: Hepatitis B is a viral disease, mainly affecting the liver. It is transmitted through blood and blood products and sexual intercourse. After an initial hepatitis B infection about 10 per cent of individuals will become hepatitis B carriers. This means that they will carry the virus in their bodies.

Although they will be perfectly healthy, they can infect others and are at a slightly higher risk of developing liver scarring and cancer, especially if they had contracted the disease, through their infected mothers, when they were born.

You cannot get hepatitis B from normal household contact. Your maid can continue to cook, clean, wash and take care of your family members with little or no risk that they will contract hepatitis B.

Make sure she understands that if she cuts herself she should quickly clean the wound and make sure that the children do not come into direct contact with it. Ask your physician for advice about whether you or any of your family members may have been exposed in the past because you will already be immune.

She should also refrain from the Chinese practice of chewing food into smaller pieces to give to your children at mealtimes.