Preventing the Spread of Hepatitis
There are things you can do to keep from getting any of the hepatitis viruses. And if you already have hepatitis B or C, there are things you can do to keep from passing them to someone else.
- Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before preparing or eating food, and after changing a diaper.
- Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.
- Heat food to a temperature higher than 185 degrees Fahrenheit for one minute to kill the Hepatitis A virus.
- If you are traveling to areas where there is much Hepatitis A and E, use only bottled water or water that has been boiled.
- Don't eat raw shellfish such as oysters.
- Always peel raw fruits and vegetables before eating them.
- Don't go swimming in ponds or lakes.
- Always wear latex gloves when touching blood or giving factor.
- Clean surfaces that have blood or feces on them with chlorine bleach.
- Don't try to put the cap back on a used needle. Drop it right away into a sharps disposal container.
- Dispose of needles, syringes, gauze, and anything else with blood on it in a sharps disposal container. Keep the sharps disposal container where children cannot reach it.
- Wear a latex protection and practice safer sex. Polyurethane condoms for males and females can be used if there is a latex allergy. This will prevent the spread of hepatitis B.
- Do not share razors, toothbrushes, or needles. Even small amounts of blood on these can spread hepatitis viruses.
- If you are getting a tattoo, a body part pierced, or a manicure or pedicure, make sure that all of the instruments are sterile. This means that they have been treated in a special machine called an autoclave to kill all germs.
If you have hepatitis B or C, do not donate blood, plasma, body organs, or sperm.