ABSTRACT

Hepatitis A remains a major public health problem (1). It is the fifth most commonly reported infectious disease in the United States and ranks sixth among the top 10 causes of foodborne disease (2). It is an important cause of morbidity and results in significant economic losses in many parts of the world (3). Hepatitis A virus (HAV), the causative agent of hepatitis A, is transmitted mainly through the fecal–oral route (see Chapter 2). Whereas 206ingestion of HAV-contaminated water or food can result in the transmission of the disease (5), this chapter will not deal with the role of water in the transmission of hepatitis A.