If you think you have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, call your health professional or your local or state health department as soon as possible, ideally within 2 weeks. What should I do if I think I have been exposed to hepatitis A virus? People with chronic liver disease, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C.People at increased risk for severe disease from hepatitis A infection People who anticipate close personal contact with an international adoptee.People with occupational risk for exposure.People who use or inject drugs (all those who use illegal drugs).Although uncommon, foodborne outbreaks have occurred in the United States from people eating contaminated fresh and frozen imported food products.Īlthough anyone can get hepatitis A, in the United States, certain groups of people are at higher risk for getting infected and for having severe disease if they do get hepatitis A. Contamination of food and water happens more often in countries where hepatitis A is common. Hepatitis A is very contagious, and people can even spread the virus before they feel sick.Ĭontamination of food with the hepatitis A virus can happen at any point: growing, harvesting, processing, handling, and even after cooking. Hepatitis A can be spread from close, personal contact with an infected person, such as through certain types of sexual contact (like oral-anal sex), caring for someone who is ill, or using drugs with others. The hepatitis A virus is spread when someone ingests the virus (even in amounts too small to see) through: The hepatitis A virus is found in the stool and blood of people who are infected. Unfortunately, in recent years the number of people infected has been increasing because there have been multiple outbreaks of hepatitis A in the United States resulting from person-to-person contact, especially among people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, and men who have sex with men. Since the hepatitis A vaccine was first recommended in 1996, cases of hepatitis A in the United States declined dramatically. Since 2016, person-to-person outbreaks of hepatitis A have been occurring across the United States mainly among people who use injection drugs or are experiencing homelessness, resulting in more than 32,000 cases.Īre cases of hepatitis A increasing in the United States? Because some people don’t ever get diagnosed, the actual number of cases reported in that year is probably closer to 24,900.
In 2018, a total of 12,474 hepatitis A cases were reported in the United States. How common is hepatitis A in the United States?
In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death this is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease. People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks to several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious, short-term liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. The page “ What is hepatitis?” more information about the differences between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. There are vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B however, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also begin as short-term, acute infections, but in some people, the virus remains in the body, resulting in chronic disease and long-term liver problems. Hepatitis A is usually a short-term infection and does not become chronic. Although each can cause similar symptoms, they are spread in different ways and can affect the liver differently. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are liver infections caused by three different viruses. What is the difference between hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C? In the United States, the most common hepatitis viruses are hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis, but it is often caused by a virus. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver.
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