How is Hepatitis A Spread?
Hepatitis A is spread in several ways. The first and most common is close contact with infected individuals i.e., through sexual intercourse or participating in other intimate activities which increase the risk of spreading the disease. Poor sanitation is also a risk factor. It contributes to most transmission cases in areas which have high poverty rates. In fact, many children living in developing countries get Hepatitis A at a very early stage in life.
Overcrowding is another risk factor. Overpopulated areas in the world record the highest annual hepatitis A infection rates compared to less populated areas. This is because sanitation standards tend to decrease as the population increases.
Hepatitis A is also spread by eating contaminated food i.e., fish from polluted waters. It is, however, worth noting that humans are long-term hosts or natural reservoirs of the virus, not animals.
