How to Protect Against Hepatitis A and B

Sherry Demeterco: There is a common misconception that Hepatitis A is just a traveler's disease. A new survey from the Canadian Liver foundation reveals that 65% of Canadians recognize they could be exposed to Hepatitis A when eating products from a grocery store or restaurant while on holiday. Canadians have a false sense of security about those same risks here at home. With only 35% acknowledging the likelihood in Canada. In truth 84% of Hepatitis A cases in Canada are not directly linked to travel. Liver specialist Dr. Morris Sherman is Chairman of the Canadian Liver Foundation. Dr. Morris Sherman: Hepatitis A is contracted through contamination often of food or of other surfaces that people touch by the Hepatitis A virus. The virus gets on their hands, they touch their face with their mouth and the virus gets into the intestinal track and then infects the liver. In many cases exposure is completely inadvertent; you don't know that you're being exposed to the Hepatitis A virus. Sherry Demeterco: Samantha Spencer knows first-hand how easy it can be to potentially contract this disease in Canada. She unknowingly contracted Hepatitis A to party. Samantha Spencer: I got Hepatitis A in Canada at a party. There were about a 150 people there and three people myself included contracting Hepatitis A and they believed that we either got it from eating contaminated food or by being served by an infected food-handler. I wasn't ever concerned about getting Hepatitis A in Canada prior to this incident. I had a cousin who had gotten Hepatitis A traveling abroad but I never really thought he could get it here. The first symptoms that I experienced were just general fatigue and not feeling well, a complete loss of appetite to the point where I really couldn't eat anything. And when I did eat something it made me sick to my stomach and I eventually lost quite a bit of weight because of this. And then the next thing that happened was my eyes and then eventually my skin turned yellow. There was about a 30-day period in between when I actually contracted Hepatitis A and when the symptoms came out and I turned yellow and I was really worried that I could have passed Hepatitis A on to somebody else without knowing it. But luckily I didn't. Sherry Demeterco: Tamara had a close call at a local restaurant in her home town when a food-handler was diagnosed with Hepatitis A, resulting in a mass vaccination of many of the restaurant's patrons. Tamara Glenn: I was never concerned about Hepatitis in Canada. I always thought it was a disease that I had to worry about if I left the country but never something I would worry about in Canada. Initially I was shocked to find out that I may have been exposed to the disease. And if I had one message to Canadians it would be to get vaccinated against Hepatitis and to speak to your doctors. Sherry Demeterco: Hepatitis B is another serious liver disease that can be contracted in Canada. Chronic Hepatitis B can lead to sorosis of the liver, liver cancer or liver failure all of which can lead to death. Hepatitis B is highly contagious and spread through direct contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids. Canadians can be infected through unprotected sexual contact and through activities such as manicures, pedicures, and body-piercings and tattoos where improperly sterilized equipment is used. Dr. Morris Sherman: Because you never really know when you are going to be exposed to Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B, it's very difficult to take precautions at the time, and therefore the best way to protect yourself against both these diseases is to be vaccinated against both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. That way if you are ever exposed you're not going to be infected and you will be protected. Sherry Demeterco: Another important protective measure against Hepatitis A and B is to adopt effective hygiene habits. These includes, thoroughly washing your hands before preparing or eating foods, and scrubbing fresh and frozen products before eating and avoiding sharing grooming products such as toothbrushes and razors. For more information on Hepatitis A and B talk to your healthcare provider, or visit the Canadian Liver Foundation's website at liver.ca. Sherry Demeterco reporting.