Hepatitis A is virus is found in the stool (faeces) of people with hepatitis A (HAV) infection. People with HAV infection become contagious early in the incubation period and can start spreading the infection even before they develop symptoms. A person remains contagious for about 7-8 days after developing jaundice (that is yellow discolouration of the skin or eyes).
- HAV infection is most commonly transmitted from one person to other by the faecal-oral route. That is it spreads through food or water contaminated with the faeces of an affected person. So if you eat something (food or water) that has been contaminated with the faeces of an affected person, you can get infected with HAV.
- Poor sanitation is the commonest cause of spread or outbreak of HAV infection. Hygiene measures such as hand washing, safe drinking water and improved sanitation can help to prevent infection with hepatitis A virus.
- HAV infection can spread by eating raw fruits and vegetables (especially those you can’t peel), washed with contaminated water and raw or undercooked shellfish from water that has been contaminated by sewage.
- Rarely hepatitis A virus can be transmitted by blood transfusions.
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