Hepatitis General Information

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter—even in microscopic amounts—from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by feces (stool) of an infected person.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A.

• To learn more about who is at risk, modes of transmission, symptoms, vaccination, and treatment, view the Hepatitis A Overview.
•  Hepatitis A monthly surveillance reports

Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B is transmitted when blood, semen or other bodily fluids from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact, sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or from mother to baby at birth. For some people, hepatitis B is an acute, or short-term, illness, but for others, it can become a long-term chronic infection. Risk for chronic infection is related to age at infection: approximately 90 percent of infected infants become chronically infected, compared with two to six percent of adults. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health issues, including cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis B.

• To learn more about who is at risk, modes of transmission, symptoms, vaccination, and treatment, view the Hepatitis B Overview.

For available information on the data and trends of viral hepatitis B and C in Florida, please view the 2019 Hepatitis B and C Epidemiology Presentation.

*Note: Hepatitis B and C data is displayed in a PowerPoint Presentation format (.PPTX) and will open in a new window.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that typically produces no symptoms. Over the years, hepatitis C can lead to severe liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Most of those infected are unaware that they have the disease. HCV is one of the most common chronic blood-borne infections in the United States, with an estimated 3.5 million Americans being infected (Source: CDC). The virus is transmitted via blood, most commonly by injection drug use, and before 1992, by blood transfusion. No vaccine is available, however, new medicines are available that can effectively treat hepatitis C. 

• To learn more about who is at risk, modes of transmission, symptoms, and treatment, view the Hepatitis C Overview. 

Non-professional tattooing is a major concern, especially in select populations such as those who have been incarcerated. Getting tested for hepatitis is important if you have ever received a tattoo. Please visit Florida Department of Health tattoo web page for more information. 

For available information on the data and trends of viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C in FLorida, please view the 2019 Hepatitis B and C Epidemiology Presentation.

*Note: Hepatitis B and C data is displayed in a PowerPoint Presentation format (.PPTX) and will open in a new window.

If you are looking for information on perinatal Hepatitis B, including transmission, universal screening recommendations during each pregnancy, case management of HBsAg-positive mothers and their infants, provision of immunoprophylaxis, including hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immune globulin, please visit the Florida Department of Health's Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program site.