Hepatitis A

Author: Dr Norah Terrault University of California San Francisco 2008-07-14

Hepatitis A virus. CDC

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is the most common cause of acute hepatitis in the United States. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person contact and by ingestion of contaminated food and water. Acute infection with hepatitis A does not cause chronic infection but those who get hepatitis A and recover are protected from getting the infection again. A safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent infection.