What are the different types of hepatitis?

Hepatitis A: Acute, spreads through contaminated food/water, vaccine available. Hepatitis B: Can be acute or chronic, spreads through blood/sex, vaccine available. Hepatitis C: Usually chronic, spreads through blood, curable with antivirals. Hepatitis D: Only infects those with Hepatitis B. Hepatitis E: Acute, waterborne, usually self-limiting.

Can hepatitis be cured?

Depends on type. Hepatitis A and E: No specific treatment needed; body clears infection. Hepatitis B: No cure but manageable with antivirals; some cases resolve spontaneously. Hepatitis C: CURABLE with 8-12 weeks of direct-acting antiviral pills (cure rate >95%). Early detection through screening is key.

Who should get tested for hepatitis?

CDC recommends: All adults get tested for Hepatitis C at least once. Hepatitis B screening for those born in high-prevalence countries, people with HIV, injection drug users, men who have sex with men, pregnant women, and those with elevated liver enzymes or risk factors.

How do I know if I have hepatitis?

Many people have no symptoms, especially early on. When symptoms occur: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored stool, joint pain, jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes). Chronic hepatitis can be asymptomatic for years while causing liver damage. Screening is essential.

Can I get vaccinated against hepatitis?

Hepatitis A vaccine: 2-dose series, recommended for all children and at-risk adults. Hepatitis B vaccine: 2-3 dose series, recommended for all children and unvaccinated adults. Combined Hepatitis A+B vaccine available. No vaccines exist for Hepatitis C, D, or E (Hepatitis E vaccine available in China only).

How is hepatitis transmitted?

Hepatitis A & E: Fecal-oral route (contaminated food/water). Hepatitis B: Blood, semen, vaginal fluids (sex, needles, mother-to-child). Hepatitis C: Primarily blood-to-blood (sharing needles, contaminated medical equipment, rarely sexual). Hepatitis D: Same as B (requires Hepatitis B co-infection).

Hawaii

Hepatitis in Hawaii

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by viral infections (Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E). It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), potentially leading to liver cirrhosis, cancer, or failure.

No active Hepatitis reports in Hawaii right now.

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What is Hepatitis?

Viral hepatitis affects hundreds of millions worldwide. Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated food/water (vaccine available for A). Hepatitis B and C spread through blood/bodily fluids; B has a vaccine, C is curable with antivirals. Chronic hepatitis B and C can silently damage the liver for decades before symptoms appear, making screening crucial.

Symptoms

Fatigue and weakness
Loss of appetite and nausea
Abdominal pain (right upper quadrant)
Dark urine
Clay-colored stool
Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
Joint pain
Fever (in acute cases)

Transmission

Varies by type. A & E: contaminated food/water. B: blood, sexual contact, mother-to-child. C: blood-to-blood (needles). D: requires HepB co-infection

Contagious Period: Varies by type; Hepatitis A: 2 weeks before through 1 week after jaundice appears; Hepatitis B & C: while virus is detectable in blood

Prevention

Hepatitis A and B vaccines
Safe food and water practices (especially when traveling)
Never share needles, razors, or toothbrushes
Practice safe sex (condoms)
Screen blood products
Universal precautions in healthcare settings
Hepatitis B vaccination for newborns
Screening and treatment programs

Hawaii Health Resources

Local health department information and state-specific prevention guidance

We're Monitoring Hawaii

Our AI-powered surveillance continuously monitors Hepatitis activity across Hawaii. We track data from state health departments, local hospitals, CDC reports, and 50+ global health sources to provide early warning of emerging threats.

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Hawaii Health Department

For official state health alerts, vaccination locations, and public health guidance specific to Hawaii, visit your state health department's website.

→ Hawaii Department of Health → CDC Hepatitis Information → CDC Health Topics

Understanding Hepatitis: Key Questions

Whether you live in Hawaii or are traveling there, knowing the symptoms, timeline, and when to seek care helps you act quickly if exposure occurs.

When to Seek Care

Seek care if you experience severe dehydration, bloody stools, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than 3 days. Children under 5, adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals should seek care earlier.

Emergency symptoms: Severe dehydration, inability to keep fluids down for 12 or more hours, or neurological symptoms require emergency care.

Expert Resources & References

Trusted information from leading health organizations

CDC

Official guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

View CDC Resources →

WHO

Global disease surveillance and guidelines from the World Health Organization

View WHO Resources →

Research

Latest peer-reviewed research and clinical studies

View Research →

Medically Reviewed Content

Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.

Last reviewed: 2026-07-18

Recent Hepatitis Reports

No confirmed cases reported in Hawaii yet. Here are the latest Hepatitis reports from our global surveillance network.

This event folder records cases of rat hepatitis E *Source: BEACON* - [View Full Report](https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=9ce7eec4-2075-4bdd-aec0-546b8dc8af9d)

Hong Kong · 2026-05-17

The Moonlight Clinic, a converted minibus parked in a suburban cul-de-sac in Suva, is part of a push to bring testing into neighbourhoods. Volunteers from the Survival Advocacy Network, a group supporting sex workers, and Rainbow Pride Fiji, which works with LGBTQ+ communities, …

United States · Alaska · 2026-05-06

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. NEW YORK (AP) -- The Trump administration is appealing a judge's order as it tries to cut the number of vaccines recommended for every child in the United States. The appeal filed Wednesday was a delayed resp…

United States · Alaska · 2026-05-01

Boston Medical CenterApr 28 2026 Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection acquired at birth or during early infancy can lead to lifelong health complications, including chronic liver disease. Despite longstanding recommendations for prenatal screening, an estimated 12% to 16% of pregna…

United States Minor Outlying Islands · Baker Island · 2026-04-30

Parents in a seaside town have been urged to ensure children wash their hands thoroughly, particularly after using the bathroom, following a hepatitis A outbreak. A small number of cases have been identified across three households in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, with officials war…

United Kingdom · England · 2026-05-07

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like in…

United States · Alaska · 2026-04-29

The dried blood spot test or for infants born to women living with hepatitis B is a national service that is offered free of charge by the UK Health Security Agency () to increase testing in the primary care setting of at-risk infants born to women living with hepatitis B. Takin…

Pakistan · Balochistan · 2026-05-15

The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. Manitoba health officials are urging people to get vaccinated amid an outbreak of hepatitis A that …

United States · Alaska · 2026-05-10

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Hepatitis answered by our epidemiology team

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