Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus. The virus is found in the stool of people with Hepatitis A. It is spread by close personal contact and sometimes by eating food or drinking water containing the virus. A person with Hepatitis A can easily pass the disease to others within the same household.
People with Hepatitis A often have to be hospitalized. Adults with Hepatitis A are often too ill to work for up to a month.
Hepatitis A vaccine can prevent Hepatitis A. Adults at risk for Hepatitis A should be vaccinated including people who travel to countries with a high or intermediate prevalence of the virus (see http://www.cdc.gov/travel), people with chronic liver disease, people who are treated with clotting factor, people who use street drugs, and people who work in areas that exposes them to the virus.
Two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine are needed for lasting protection. The doses should be given at least 6 months apart. For travelers, it is best to start the vaccine series one month before traveling.
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