Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is one of five known viruses that cause an inflammation of the liver. The virus is transmitted by the fecal/oral route, which means that someone must be infected by the fecal matter of someone with the disease. Hepatitis A can also be transmitted by tainted food and drink.
Symptoms of hepatitis A include fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, intermittent nausea, diarrhea, and other flu-like symptoms. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes) may appear. Not everyone who contracts the disease will have all of the symptoms.
Carriers of the disease are generally contagious for 2 to 3 weeks. People who have already had the disease are immune.
There is a vaccine to help prevent hepatitis A. In addition, a shot is available for people exposed to the virus to help lessen the risk of infection.
An estimated 150,000 people in the United States become infected with hepatitis A each year.
Read the Center for Disease Control hepatitis A fact sheet.
Look here for information about the risk of getting hepatitis A while traveling.
You can get more information about the disease from the Hepatitis Foundation.
