Is hepatitis A contagious? What is the route of transmission?

Hepatitis A is a common infectious disease in life and can be transmitted through daily necessities and other physical objects. The main route of transmission of hepatitis A is through the fecal-oral route. If you want to prevent hepatitis A, you must know the correct method.

Hepatitis A is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, that is, the hepatitis A virus in the patient's feces or blood during the latent or acute phase contaminates water, food, utensils, and close contact in daily life and enters the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth. The hepatitis A virus has strong resistance to various external factors and can survive in the external environment for a long time. It can be transmitted through various contaminated objects (hands, daily necessities, clothing, sheets, etc.) as well as water and food, and can also be transmitted by flies.

Four steps to prevent the spread of hepatitis A

First, cut off the transmission route.

It is an important part of preventing this disease. It requires strengthening the management of diet, water sources and feces, developing good hygiene habits, washing hands before and after meals, disinfecting shared tableware, and it is best to implement separate meals. Cutting boards, knives and storage containers for raw and cooked food should be strictly separated to prevent contamination.

2. Prevention of eating habits

For some foods that are prone to carry pathogenic bacteria, such as snails, shells, crabs, and especially seafood such as razor clams that can enrich hepatitis A virus, they must be cooked and steamed thoroughly when eaten, and bad eating habits such as eating them raw, half-cooked, or directly eating them after pickling should be avoided.

3. Isolate patients.

Pay attention to disinfecting the feces of hepatitis A patients. The isolation period for patients should be no less than 30 days, and patients in early childhood institutions should be isolated for 40 days. In epidemic areas, patients and their close contacts are generally observed for 4-6 weeks. Patients undergoing home isolation treatment must strictly abide by the personal hygiene system, and anything used by the patients must be carefully disinfected.

Fourth, protect vulnerable groups.

During the hepatitis A epidemic, susceptible groups (infants, children and those with negative serum anti-HAV IgG) can be vaccinated with live attenuated hepatitis A vaccine for active immunization. People who have been in contact with people with hepatitis A can be vaccinated with human serum or placental globulin to prevent the disease.