Info on Hep A

Hepatitis A is usually spread by faecal-oral (poo in the mouth) means. Faecal-oral transmission of the hepatitis A virus may occur when anything that has been contaminated with infected faeces is put in the mouth, for example:

• food, liquid or eating utensils can transmit the virus from an infected person;
• touching nappies, linen and towels soiled with the faeces of an infectious person; and
• direct contact (including sexual) with an infectious person.

It causes an acute (short term) infection. A person with hepatitis A will be sick, sometimes quite sick, for some time and then get better. They will have developed antibodies for hepatitis A and will not get it again.

There is a safe effective vaccine for hepatitis A. The vaccine is recommended for people travelling to places where the water supply may be contaminated with faecal (poo) matter, people who may come into contact with faecal matter (for example plumbers, health care workers who care for people with high needs). It is also recommended for people living with hepatitis B or C.

To avoid the transmission of hepatitis A:

• consider being vaccinated.
• always wash hands thoroughly after going to the toilet, before preparing and eating food, after handling soiled linen e.g. nappies;
• when travelling in regions with poor sanitation, drink bottled water and avoid eating food that has been cleaned or prepared using contaminated water.