Transmission varies according to the type of hepatitis virus. In general, hepatitis A is mostly through feces (stools) from infected people. Hepatitis B and C are spread through bodily fluids.

Hepatitis A

The virus that causes hepatitis A (HAV) is found in the stools (feces) of infected people. HAV is usually spread by putting something in your mouth that has infected stools. This can happen by accident, if the object, like an eating utensil, looks clean. Hepatitis A is common in areas where there are poor sanitary or hygienic (cleaning) conditions.

People at-risk of hepatitis A include:

• Household contacts of infected people
• Sex contacts of infected people
• People living and travelling in areas of the world with many cases of the disease
• Men who have sex with men
• Injecting and non-injecting drug users
• Health care or public safety workers

Hepatitis B

Spread of the virus that causes hepatitis B (HBV) occurs when a bodily fluid of an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. So, HBV spreads by having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles for drugs, steroids, piercing, or tattooing, infected sharps, or from mother to baby during birth.

People at-risk of developing hepatitis B include:

• People with multiple sex partners
• Men who have sex with men
• Sex contacts of infected persons
• Injection drug users
• Household contacts of chronically infected people
• Babies from infected mothers
• Health care and public safety workers
• Hemodialysis patients
• People immigrating from areas of the world with many cases

Persons at-risk of hepatitis B might also be at risk of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C

Spread of the virus that causes hepatitis C (HCV) occurs when a bodily fluid of an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person. This is similar to the spread of the virus that causes hepatitis B. So, HCV spreads by having unprotected sex with an infected person, sharing needles for drugs, steroids, piercing, or tattooing, infected sharps, or from mother to baby.

People at-risk of hepatitis C include:

• Injecting drug users
• Hemodialysis patients
• Recipients of blood and/or organs before 1992
• People with undiagnosed liver problems
• Babies born from infected mothers
• Health care and public safety workers
• People having sex with multiple sexual partners
• People having sex with an infected partner