Jews in north London have been urged to take extra hygiene precautions after an outbreak of dysentery was detected within the community.

In recent months there has been an increase in school-aged children affected by the highly infectious disease, according to Public Health England.

Tests have confirmed the spread of the bacteria which can cause large outbreaks of diarrhoea, particularly in young children. Other symptoms include painful stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and high temperatures.

Public Health England issued a letter to parents and carers at schools in Barnet, in which Dr Tania Misra, a consultant in communicable disease control, wrote: "The illness is usually spread from person to person when hands and food are contaminated with faeces from an infected person, facilitated by large social and/or religious gatherings, and travel."

There is a suggestion that the cases may have been caused by the sharing of water to wash hands for hamotzi. The letter states: "In addition to ritual hand washing, it is important that hands are washed thoroughly with soap and warm water."

According to Public Health England, the number affected is small and there have been no new cases reported since the letter was sent on November 14.