How is HBV transmitted?
HBV is transmitted through activities that involve percutaneous (i.e., puncture through the skin) or mucosal contact with infectious blood or body fluids (e.g., semen, saliva), including • Sex with an infected partner • Injection drug use that involves sharing needles, syringes, or drug-preparation equipment • Birth to an infected mother • Contact with blood or open sores of an infected person • Needle sticks or sharp instrument exposures • Sharing items such as razors or toothbrushes with an infected person HBV is not spread through food or water, sharing eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, hand holding, coughing, or sneezing.
Like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HBV is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood and body fluids. This can happen by sharing needles, razors, toothrushes, or earrings, or if unsanitary needles are used during body piercing, tattooing, or acupuncture. HBV can also be transmitted by having unprotected sex (without a condom) with someone who is HBV-infected. An infected mother can pass HBV on to her child during delivery. This is the predominant means of HBV transmission in the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) population. Traveling to regions where HBV is common, such as China, Southeast Asia, and Africa, is another risk factor for becoming infected. HBV is NOT transmitted by coughing, sneezing, hugging, holding hands, breastfeeding, sharing utensils, eating food prepared by someone with HBV, or by kissing on the cheek.
Unlike HIV, which is a fragile virus and dies quickly, HBV is a very hardy virus that can live up to 1 month outside the human body. One source said “up to 6 months.” HBV is transmitted from one person to another through body fluids – mainly blood, semen and vaginal fluids, and to a lesser degree – saliva, urine, and feces. It is not in sweat or tears. HBV is spread by: • having sex with someone who is infected • sharing needle or personal items such as razors, toothbrushes or nail clippers with someone who is infected • tattooing, ear piercing or acupuncture if contaminated needles or equipment is used • infected mothers to babies • infected blood (or other body fluids) entering your body through a cut or broken skin. HBV is not spread through casual contact or through the air. You cannot get it by shaking hands, sitting next to someone, giving blood, eating food or drinking water. II. Information on the hepatitis B vaccine I’ve given you the bad news, now let’s get to the good news.
