How is hepatitis A spread?
Hepatitis A is usually spread when the hepatitis A virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (or stool) of an infected person. A person can get hepatitis A through: • Person to person contact • when an infected person does not wash his or her hands properly after going to the bathroom and touches other objects or food • when a parent or caregiver does not properly wash his or her hands after changing diapers or cleaning up the stool of an infected person • when someone engages in certain sexual activities, such as oral-anal contact with an infected person • Contaminated food or water • Hepatitis A can be spread by eating or drinking food or water contaminated with the virus. This is more likely to occur in countries where hepatitis A is common and in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or poor personal hygiene. The food and drinks most likely to be contaminated are fruits, vegetables, shellfish, ice, and water. In the Uni
