It is uncommon in New Zealand. If you are planning to travel to a developing country, you may be at risk, and should consider getting immunised.
If you are concerned about hepatitis A call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or see your doctor or practice nurse.
The virus is spread by contact with the faeces (poos) of an infected person. It can be passed on through:
The usual symptoms of hepatitis A are fever, nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness and stomach upset, often with diarrhoea. After a few days, people often notice that their urine goes dark, their eyes appear yellow, and the diarrhoea gets smelly and floats. The illness can last from just a few days to several weeks. Adults and teenagers can be very ill with hepatitis A, but it is usually a mild illness in children.
People with hepatitis A recover completely over several weeks or a few months with no permanent damage done. People develop life-long immunity so they can’t get it again.
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. In most cases, the immune system will clear the infection and the liver will completely heal, but this can take several weeks. Contact your doctor if you have concerns about your illness.
It is really important to wash and dry your hands thoroughly to prevent spread of hepatitis A virus. Anyone who has diarrhoea should not go to work, school or daycare.
To help take care of yourself you can:
People who have been in close contact with someone with hepatitis A within the previous two weeks should get a hepatitis A immunisation. In most situations, public health nurses will get in touch with people who have been in close contact and offer immunisation. If you have any questions, please contact your family doctor who can call the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease. This means that health professionals or laboratories will inform us when someone has it. This allows us to give advice about how to stop it spreading, and check that other people who have been in close contact with the person with the illness haven’t also been infected. Immunisation is the most effective way of preventing people who have been in close contact with someone who has had Hepatitis A from getting sick.
Information in other languages
The virus is spread by contact with the faeces (poos) of an infected person. It can be passed on through:
The usual symptoms of hepatitis A are fever, nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness and stomach upset, often with diarrhoea. After a few days, people often notice that their urine goes dark, their eyes appear yellow, and the diarrhoea gets smelly and floats. The illness can last from just a few days to several weeks. Adults and teenagers can be very ill with hepatitis A, but it is usually a mild illness in children.
People with hepatitis A recover completely over several weeks or a few months with no permanent damage done. People develop life-long immunity so they can’t get it again.
There is no specific treatment for hepatitis A. In most cases, the immune system will clear the infection and the liver will completely heal, but this can take several weeks. Contact your doctor if you have concerns about your illness.
It is really important to wash and dry your hands thoroughly to prevent spread of hepatitis A virus. Anyone who has diarrhoea should not go to work, school or daycare.
To help take care of yourself you can:
People who have been in close contact with someone with hepatitis A within the previous two weeks should get a hepatitis A immunisation. In most situations, public health nurses will get in touch with people who have been in close contact and offer immunisation. If you have any questions, please contact your family doctor who can call the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.
Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease. This means that health professionals or laboratories will inform us when someone has it. This allows us to give advice about how to stop it spreading, and check that other people who have been in close contact with the person with the illness haven’t also been infected. Immunisation is the most effective way of preventing people who have been in close contact with someone who has had Hepatitis A from getting sick.
Information in other languages
There are specific requirements for notifiable diseases in the Auckland region.
Last updated 13.9.2018