Hepatitis refers to any disease resulting in inflammation of the liver,
regardless of how that disease is contracted.
Hepatitis A is an acute infection transmitted through contaminated food and
water. Infection can be prevented by receiving the hepatitis A vaccine. Death
rate: Up to five deaths per 1,000 cases
Hepatitis B can be both an acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term)
infection. It is transmitted through contaminated blood. Infection can be
prevented by receiving the hepatitis B vaccine.
Hepatitis C can be both an acute and chronic infection. It is transmitted
through contaminated blood. No effective vaccine is available at this time.
Hepatitis B
How it can be transmitted:
•Mother to child
•Wound-to-wound contact
•Sharing razors or toothbrushes
•Reusing needles for tattoos, piercings or injecting drugs
•Reusing medical needles or syringes
•Unprotected sex with an infected person
How it is not transmitted:
•Sharing food or water
•Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses
•Casual contact
•Coughing or sneezing
•Hugging or kissing
•Breastfeeding
Source: San Francisco Hep B Free and San Francisco Department of Public Health
Hepatitis B numbers
1.25 million Americans who are chronically infected
60,000 Americans who become infected annually
3,000 to 5,000 People who die annually due to cirrhosis or liver cancer caused
by hepatitis B
1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islanders living with chronic (lifelong) hepatitis B
1 in 4 People with chronic hepatitis B who will die from liver cancer or liver
failure without appropriate monitoring or treatment
2 in 3 Sufferers who don’t know they are infected because there are no
symptoms
Source: San Francisco Hep B Free and San Francisco Department of Public Health
How it is not transmitted:
•Sharing food or water
•Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses
•Casual contact
•Coughing or sneezing
•Hugging or kissing
•Breastfeeding