What is Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection transmitted through contaminated food and water or by direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms are often mild or absent in young children, but the disease can be more serious with advancing age. Recovery can vary from weeks to months. Following hepatitis A infection immunity is lifelong.
Prevention
As the most common mode of infection in travellers is consumption of contaminated food or water. All travellers should take care with personal, food and water hygiene.
Hepatitis A vaccine
Hepatitis A vaccine
The duration of protection from a completed course of hepatitis A vaccine can be expected to be at least 25 years and probably indefinite. However, Public Health England recommend that until further evidence is available on persistence of protective immunity, a booster dose at 25 years is indicated for those at ongoing risk of hepatitis A. Specific advice should be sought for individuals with altered immune responses, an earlier booster may be recommended.