Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. You can get infected by ingesting food or water contaminated with faeces or contact with an infected person. It can be serious, especially for high-risk groups. Vaccination and good hygiene can protect you. We monitor and report on national case data.

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What hepatitis A is

Hepatitis A is viral infection of the liver. Infections are rare in Australia.

It is usually mild and most people make a full recovery. Some people are at higher risk of getting severely unwell.

Vaccination and good hygiene are the best ways to prevent the spread of hepatitis A.

Why it matters to public health

Hepatitis A can cause outbreaks and illness, especially in people who have not been vaccinated or haven’t had the disease before.

In Australia, cases of hepatitis A have fallen since the 1950s due to:

  • better hygiene and sanitation
  • improved water supply
  • the introduction of an effective vaccine
  • effective public health actions to limit outbreaks and prevent further cases.

Hepatitis A is still common in many countries with poor water and sanitation. Contaminated food imported from these countries can cause outbreaks in Australia.

Although hepatitis A outbreaks are rare, they can have a big impact on public health. Because of this, we monitor and report on hepatitis A cases in Australia and encourage vaccination for people who are more likely to be exposed. This helps to identify and manage hepatitis A cases and contacts to reduce the risk of spread.

Symptoms

Hepatitis A is usually mild, and many people will not have any symptoms. Adults and older children are more likely to develop symptoms than young children.

Common symptoms include:

A few days later, you might develop:

  • dark-coloured urine
  • light-coloured stools
  • jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
  • itchy skin.

Some people can develop further complications and might need hospitalisation. Rarely, people require a liver transplant.

Read more about symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis A.

healthdirect’s symptom checker can help you decide whether to see a health professional.

Check your symptoms

Onset of symptoms

Symptoms usually start 15 to 50 days after getting infected.

How it spreads

Hepatitis A is highly contagious. You can get infected after ingesting the virus by:

  • eating contaminated raw, frozen or undercooked food
  • drinking contaminated water
  • handling soiled nappies, linen or towels of an infectious person
  • sharing personal items with an infectious person, such as toothbrushes
  • having close or intimate contact (including oral or anal sex) with an infectious person.

The hepatitis A virus can survive in the environment – including on surfaces, in water and in frozen food – for several months.

Infectious period

People with hepatitis A are considered infectious from 2 weeks before symptoms start until either:

  • 1 week after jaundice appears (if it occurs)
  • 2 weeks after symptoms start (if jaundice does not occur).

Prevention

Get vaccinated

The best ways to protect against hepatitis A are to:

  • regularly wash your hands, especially after going to the toilet or touching soiled nappies or anything with body fluids
  • regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • dispose of sewage safely
  • handle food hygienically – from production to consumption
  • get vaccinated, if recommended.

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in:
    • the Northern Territory
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Western Australia
  • people with medical risk factors
  • people whose occupation or lifestyle increases their risk
  • people who travel to areas where hepatitis A is endemic.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in higher-risk areas can get hepatitis A vaccines for free under the National Immunisation Program at 18 months and 4 years of age. If you are not eligible for a free vaccine, you can buy one from your health professional or pharmacy.

Protecting others

If you have hepatitis A, you should:

  • see your doctor or healthcare professional immediately
  • until advised by your doctor or healthcare professional that you can resume normal activities, avoid:
    • preparing food or drink for other people
    • providing personal care to others
    • attending childcare, school or work
    • sharing utensils, towels or personal items with other people
    • having close or intimate contact (including oral or anal sex) with others.

Read more ways to prevent hepatitis A.

High-risk groups and settings

Some people are at greater risk of getting hepatitis A or of getting very sick from it.

Hepatitis A can spread quickly in certain settings, including:

  • early childhood care centres
  • schools
  • food outlets and other places food is handled
  • residential care facilities
  • disability settings
  • correctional and detention centres
  • sex-on-premises venues.

If you are at greater risk, it is especially important to:

People at greater risk of severe disease

Hepatitis A poses a greater risk of severe illness for people who:

  • are older
  • are immunocompromised
  • have chronic liver disease (including hepatitis B or hepatitis C)
  • have had a liver transplant.

People at greater risk of exposure

Some people are more likely to be exposed to hepatitis A because of their job, where they live, travel habits, or lifestyle.

Work or living situations

  • People who live, work or care for children in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in:
    • the Northern Territory
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Western Australia
  • Early childhood educators and childcare workers
  • Carers of people with developmental disabilities
  • Plumbers and sewage workers

Travel

  • People who travel to countries where hepatitis A is more common

Lifestyle factors

  • People who have anal sex (including men who have sex with men, and sex workers)
  • People who inject drugs
  • People in correctional facilities

Diagnosis and treatment

Your healthcare professional can arrange a blood or faecal test to diagnose hepatitis A.

You can use healthdirect’s directory to find a health service near you.

Find a health service

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. You can manage mild symptoms by:

  • resting
  • drinking fluids
  • avoiding alcohol.

If you have more severe symptoms or complications, you may need to go to hospital for treatment.

Read more about how to manage or treat hepatitis A.

Surveillance and reporting

Hepatitis A is a nationally notifiable disease – these are diseases that present a risk to public health.

Health authorities in each state and territory report new diagnoses to us daily through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

We also collect and analyse data on hepatitis A cases through the OzFoodNet Network. This includes details about people’s travel acquisition, risk factors, and food consumption history.

This is part of our routine surveillance activities, which help us monitor case numbers around the country, understand disease patterns, and identify outbreaks.

We analyse the data and report on case numbers through our data visualisation tool, where you can filter and search the latest information. You can also find information in OzFoodNet’s annual reports.

Outbreaks

Health authorities respond differently depending on where hepatitis A outbreaks occur.

For cases in food handlers, outbreak control measures might include:

  • keeping food handlers who are infected, or might be infected, away from work
  • providing vaccination or protective medicine to close contacts of cases
  • cleaning and disinfecting kitchen surfaces and utensils
  • issuing public notices about symptoms to prevent further spread.

For outbreaks in childcare and case-based facilities, outbreak control measures might include:

  • keeping people who are infected, or might be infected, away from others in the facility, if possible
  • offering vaccination or protective medicine to close contacts of cases
  • cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces and objects (like toilets, toys, change tables, cutlery)
  • informing staff and families about symptoms and how to prevent further spread.

For widespread food sources (such as an imported frozen fruit), outbreak control measures might include:

  • recalling contaminated food
  • sending out national or regional media alerts
  • working with food safety agencies and distributors to trace where the food came from
  • putting up signs in stores about symptoms to prevent further spread.

Read more about how we define and plan for outbreaks and pandemics.

Support

For information about hepatitis A in your state or territory see:

If you need mental health support, see a list of organisations, websites and services that offer support, counselling and information.

For information on staying safe from hepatitis A while travelling, see:

We regularly add new content to this website. This will include more topics and diseases. In the meantime, information about other diseases in Australia is on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s website.

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