Hepatitis A

What is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A, also known as Infectious Hepatitis, is a disease of the liver that is caused by the Hepatitis A virus.

This disease can be associated with fecal contamination of water or food and can be  spread person-to-person through poor sanitary habits and the intake of uncooked food or unclean water.  

This illness is most commonly seen among children and young adults, but can be most damaging in older adults. Outbreaks are not uncommon at camps or military posts. This is the most common type of viral hepatitis, it can be a problem for fire fighters, especially if their meals are prepared by an infected person or they are infected by contaminated materials at a fire, hazardous materials incident, USAR, or SCUBA incident.

Learn More

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/a/index.htm