Hepatitis E (HEV) is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It is not considered chronic and is rare in the United States.
HEV infection is usually associated with drinking water that has been contaminated with feces. People in the United States who have HEV almost always received the infection in another country where HEV is common. Person-to-person transmission of HEV infection appears to be uncommon. Outbreaks of HEV have occurred in a wide geographic area. These outbreaks occur primarily in developing countries with inadequate sanitation.
The symptoms of HEV are the similar to other types of viral hepatitis and may include:
Other less common symptoms include:
There is no known treatment for HEV infection. The infection is acute and runs its course.
Travelers to developing countries are most at risk for HEV infection. Pregnant women are especially at risk.
The following measures can help prevent infection with HEV for travelers to developing countries:
Source:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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