What is hepatitis E (HEV)?
Hepatitis E is caused by infection with the hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis E is a waterborne disease, and contaminated water or food supplies have been cause of major outbreaks (large number of infected people). Hepatitis E infections have been found in much of Central and South-East Asia, North and West Africa, and in Mexico. These are areas where fecal contamination of drinking water is common. How is Hepatitis E spread? • eating food or drinking water contaminated with the stool (bowel movement) of an infected person • possibility of spread by several non-human primates, pigs, cows, sheep, goats and rodents because they can be infected with the virus What are the symptoms of Hepatitis E? • jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) • weight loss • liver enlargement • abdominal pain and tenderness • nausea and vomiting • fever After becoming infected, symptoms may show between 3 to 8 weeks. Symptoms are most common in young adults aged 15-40 years and uncommon in children. Are there complic
