Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is found in the stool (feces) of HAV-infected people. Hepatitis A can easily spread from one person to another by putting something in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A.  It is spread more easily when sanitary conditions are poor or good personal hygiene is not observed.

The Hepatitis A virus is spread:

• when someone ingests anything that's contaminated with HAV-infected stool (this makes it easy for the virus to spread in overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions)
• in water, milk and foods, especially in shellfish
• through close person-to-person contact

Because hepatitis A can be a mild infection, particularly in children, it's possible for some people to be unaware that they have had the illness. Although medical tests show that about 40% of urban Americans have had hepatitis A, only about 5% recall being sick.

To learn more about hepatitis A, please go to these links:

Louisiana Hepatitis A Public Information            CDC-Hepatitis A Public Information
Hepatitis A Questions and Answers                   CDC-Hepatitis A Fact Sheet 

Epidemiology Manual- Hepatitis A                        CDC-Hepatitis A Information for Health Professionals
Hepatitis A Summary                                              Hepatitis A Summary 2

Annual Report - Louisiana - Hepatitis A

Hepatitis Websites

The Difference Between Hepatitis A, B and C

 

Primary Contact Information:

Hepatitis Coordinator: Dielda Robertson
Address: 1450 Poydras Street New Orleans, LA 70112	Telephone: (504) 568-8289 Fax: (504) 568-8290 Email: dielda.robertson@la.gov