Hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E)

Hepatitis was traditionally separated into two types based on clinical and epidemiological characteristics: type A caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV) and type B caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Hepatitis A

• Transmission of hepatitis A is via the faecal-oral route, through contaminated food or water. Thorough cooking will destroy the virus, but shellfish, which are usually eaten raw, may become infected from sewage contaminated seawater and become a vehicle for transmission.

Hepatitis B (Hep B, HBV)

• The virus is transmitted parenterally and sexually. Transmission most commonly occurs following sexual intercourse, as a result of blood to blood contact, including injury with contaminated sharp instruments or other equipment by intravenous drug misusers, or by perinatal transmission from mother to child.

Hepatitis C (Hep C, HCV)

• The virus is associated with intravenous drug use or blood products. Sexual, vertical and occupational transmission do occur, but on a less frequent basis than HBV. Transfusion associated infection is now rare in the UK. A vaccine for hepatitis C is not available.  Hepatitis C became a notifiable disease in July 2021.

Hepatitis D, E

• Other hepatitis viruses have been identified. Hepatitis D is always associated with co-infection of HBV. Hepatitis E, like HAV, is transmitted by the faecal-oral route, often associated with gross contamination of water supplies (usually by sewage).