The hepatitis A virus is in the stools (faeces) of infected people. The disease is easily spread in areas where there is overcrowding and poor sanitation.
Poor personal hygiene
The most common cause of hepatitis A is eating food that is contaminated with the stools of an infected person as a result of poor personal hygiene. For example, you may get hepatitis A if you eat food prepared by an infected person who has not properly washed their hands.
Contaminated drinking water
It is also possible to become infected with hepatitis A by drinking contaminated water that has not been treated properly. This includes using ice cubes made from contaminated water and eating raw fruit or vegetables washed in contaminated water.
Also, shellfish can be infected if it comes from sea contaminated with sewage.
