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Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is caused by the contagious hepatitis A virus that infects the liver, and can lead to serious liver problems. There is a vaccine that prevents the virus!

The virus spreads through the feces (poop) of people who have the virus. If a person with the virus doesn’t wash his or her hands after going to the bathroom, feces can transfer to objects, food, drinks or drugs. 

A person can have hepatitis A for up two weeks without feeling sick but during that time can spread the virus to others. Symptoms usually start two to six weeks after infection and last less than two months.

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain
  • Dark urine
  • Diarrhea
  • Clay-colored bowel movements
  • Joint pain
  • Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)

Outbreak Overview

For information on the Michigan person-to-person outbreak of hepatitis A starting in August 2016, including a summary of the overall outbreak, an overview of the disease, methods to protect yourself against infection, educational materials, and other resources please visit www.michigan.gov/HepatitisAOutbreak.

General Information 

Vaccination Information