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Hepatitis A Information for the Public
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the HAV virus.
People who get hepatitis A may feel sick for a few weeks or several months but usually recover completely and do not have lasting liver damage.
In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death. This is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease.
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Transmission (Spread)
The hepatitis A virus is very contagious.
Hepatitis A spreads when someone ingests the virus, even in very small amounts. This usually occurs through
- person-to-person contact or by
- eating or drinking contaminated food or drink.
In rare cases, hepatitis A can cause liver failure and even death. This is more common in older people and in people with other serious health issues, such as chronic liver disease.
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Prevention
The best way to prevent hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. You need to get all the doses in the series to be fully protected.
CDC recommends the following groups get vaccinated against hepatitis A:
- All children ages 12–23 months.
- All children and adolescents between ages 2–18 years who have not been vaccinated.
- All people, including pregnant people, with increased risk factors for hepatitis A.
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Signs and Symptoms
Not everyone with hepatitis A has symptoms.
Adults are more likely to have symptoms than children.
If symptoms develop, they usually appear 2–7 weeks after exposure.
Symptoms usually last less than 2 months, although some people can feel sick for as long as 6 months.
Symptoms can include:
- Dark urine or clay-colored stools
- Diarrhea
- Feeling tired
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
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Risk of Disease
Before vaccination, large hepatitis A epidemics were common.
A 2023 outbreak of Hepatitis A was traced to organic frozen strawberries
Other foodborne sources of Hepatitis A infection include shellfish, raw vegetables and fruit (berries), and salads
In 2016, an outbreak of Hepatitis A in Michigan caused 920 hospitalizations and 30 deaths
Contamination of food and water can occur when an infected food handler prepares food without appropriate hand washing
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Reporting
Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease. A notifiable disease is one that doctors must report to state or local public health officials.
Public health officials track some diseases because they can spread easily, are serious, or happen often.
Notifiable diseases in Michigan:
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Condition
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Pathogen -
Questions About
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Hep A and the vaccine used to prevent it.
Hepatitis A: Questions and Answers (immunize.org)
Ask The Experts About Vaccines: Hepatitis A (immunize.org)
Video: Why do babies get the hepatitis A vaccine? (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
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For More Information
Hepatitis A Vaccination
Hepatitis A: The Disease & Vaccines (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences (immunize.org)How Vaccines Work
Video: How Do Vaccines Work? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Spanish version: ¿Cómo funcionan las vacunas? (American Academy of Pediatrics) -
Access Your Immunization Record
If you have been immunized in the State of Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).
Visit the Michigan Immunization Portal to learn more or contact your healthcare provider.