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The hepatitis A virus is found in the shit of an infected person. Only a tiny amount of this shit (which you may not even be able to see) needs to get into another person’s mouth to infect them. Someone with hepatitis A is at their most infectious in the weeks before they feel any symptoms and for a couple of weeks after.
Poor hygiene can spread the virus. Outbreaks are often traced back to infected people (such as restaurant workers) handling food without washing their hands. Swimming in or drinking contaminated water, seafood (especially shellfish), ice or any food (eg. salads) prepared with infected water can all be sources of infection, especially abroad.
The infection can be spread during sex when minute amounts of infected shit get in the mouth after fingering, rimming, anal sex, fisting or touching used condoms or sex toys. The virus could spread if you kiss someone whose mouth has come into contact with infected shit (e.g. during rimming). Because the virus is more common in this group, the more people a gay or bisexual man has sex with, the more risk of him getting hepatitis A.
People who share injecting equipment when using drugs (or steroids) are at greater risk of getting or passing on the virus too.
There is not enough of the virus in spit, cum and other body fluids to pass the infection on.
Do you have a question about Hepatitis A that is not answered on this website? Try www.britishlivertrust.org.uk.
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