How are Hepatitis A and B transmitted and prevented?
Hepatitis A is transmitted by drinking water, eating food, or touching a surface that has been contaminated by infected fecal matter. It can be prevented by washing hands before eating or preparing food, and after using the bathroom. A vaccine may be given to a child 1 or older.
Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infected body fluids (e.g. blood and saliva). A baby may be infected during gestation or delivery. All newborns should receive the hepatitis-B vaccine as it can spread from a carrier mother to the newborn baby.