The following tips can help reduce your risk of spreading or catching the virus:

• Always wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom and when you come in contact with an infected person's blood, stools, or other bodily fluid
• Avoid unclean food and water

The virus may spread more rapidly through day care centers and other places where people are in close contact. Thorough hand washing before and after each diaper change, before serving food, and after using the restroom may help prevent such outbreaks.

If you have recently been exposed to hepatitis A and have not had hepatitis A before or have not received the hepatitis A vaccine series, ask your doctor or nurse about receiving either immune globulin or the hepatitis A vaccine. Common reasons why you may need to receive one or both of these include:

• You live with someone who has hepatitis A
• You recently had sexual contact with someone who has hepatitis A
• You recently shared illegal drugs, either injected or non-injected, with someone who has hepatitis A
• You have had close personal contact over a period of time with someone who has hepatitis A
• You have eaten in a restaurant where food or food handlers were found to be infected or contaminated with hepatitis A

Vaccines that protect against hepatitis A infection are available. The vaccine begins to protect 4 weeks after receiving the first dose. The 6- to 12-month booster is required for long-term protection. See: Hepatitis A vaccine

Travelers should take the following precautions:

• Avoid dairy products.
• Avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish.
• Beware of sliced fruit that may have been washed in contaminated water. Travelers should peel all fresh fruits and vegetables themselves.
• Do not buy food from street vendors.
• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A (and possibly hepatitis B) if traveling to countries where outbreaks of the disease occur.
• Use only carbonated bottled water for brushing teeth and drinking. (Remember that ice cubes can carry infection.)
• If no water is available, boiling water is the best method for eliminating hepatitis A. Bringing the water to a full boil for at least 1 minute generally makes it safe to drink.
• Heated food should be hot to the touch and eaten right away.