Protect Yourself From Hepatitis A When Traveling

Immunization against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) is recommended for anyone traveling to any country or area except : 1 Australia. Canada. Japan. New Zealand. The United States. Western Europe and the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, and Finland). Talk to your doctor before visiting any other areas. If you plan to…

Protect Yourself From Hepatitis A When Traveling

Topic Overview

Immunization against the hepatitis A virus (HAV) is recommended for anyone traveling to any country or area except:footnote 1

  • Australia.
  • Canada.
  • Japan.
  • New Zealand.
  • The United States.
  • Western Europe and the Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, and Finland).

Talk to your doctor before visiting any other areas.

If you plan to travel to a part of the world where sanitation is poor or where hepatitis A is a known problem, see your doctor about receiving the hepatitis A vaccine or the combination hepatitis A and B vaccine. (Risk of hepatitis B increases if you go to a high-risk country frequently or stay for a long time.)

When traveling in an area where hepatitis A is a known problem or where water quality is questionable:

  • Boil water before you drink it. Bring the water to a rolling boil for 1 minute. If you are at an elevation of 6562 ft (2000 m) or higher, boil the water for 3 minutes. Do not drink tap water or well water or beverages containing ice cubes.
  • Do not brush your teeth with tap water or well water.
  • Make sure all foods are cooked well, especially shellfish.
  • Eat only raw fruits and vegetables that you have washed in uncontaminated water and peeled yourself.
  • Don’t swim in water that has not been treated with chlorine.
  • Don’t drink bath or shower water.

Related Information

References

Citations

  1. Sharapov UM, Teshale EH (2014). Infectious diseases related to travel: Hepatitis A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/hepatitis-a. Accessed December 24, 2014.

Credits

Current as ofJune 9, 2019

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson MD – Internal Medicine
Adam Husney MD – Family Medicine
W. Thomas London MD – Hepatology

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