Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, caused by alcohol and drug use, bacteria, or toxins. Hepatitis A is a contagious virus that also causes liver infection. Hepatitis A is considered an acute infection, not a chronic liver disease. Within the Hepatitis family, the Hepatitis A disease is the least severe compared to Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.

The most common transmission of the Hepatitis A virus is when a person comes in contact with the stool or fecal matter of an infected person. A person can unknowingly become infected because a microscopic amount is only needed to infect someone and this can be passed through a simple handshake. Other ways of transmission can include other physical contact with an infected person, digesting contaminated food, direct contact with contaminated surfaces, and through improper hand washing techniques. A person traveling to a country where Hepatitis A is common also increases the chances of becoming infected.

The Hepatitis A virus can survive in the acidic digestive system and live outside the human body for months. Once a person is infected, the severity can range from having no symptoms to severe illness, which can last up to several months.

For a listing of Multi-Clean liquid disinfectants or disinfecting wipes that are effective on Hepatitis A, please visit Multi-Clean’s Infection Control webpage.

For more information about Hepatitis, check out Hepatitis A Infection Control, or the CDC website.