Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Hepatitis B is a liver infection spread through blood, semen and vaginal fluids. The chance of getting it in the UK is low. The Hepatitis B vaccine can protect you if you are at high risk or travelling to a country where it's more common.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. It is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is highly contagious and spread through contact with infectious body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal secretions.
Many people with Hepatitis B do not experience symptoms initially. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
Fatigue
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
Dark urine
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
The risk of getting Hepatitis B for travellers is generally low, but certain behaviours or activities can increase this risk, especially in areas where hepatitis B is more common. These include:
Unprotected sex
Exposure to blood or blood products, particularly for healthcare workers or those receiving blood transfusions in countries that do not screen for hepatitis B (UK blood transfusions are screened)
Using contaminated needles, whether through injecting drugs, getting a tattoo or piercing with unsterilised equipment, or receiving medical or dental care
Participating in contact sports
Adopting children from high-risk countries
Travelling for extended periods
These activities can heighten the risk of contracting hepatitis B.
Employees who work with blood or bodily fluids are at the highest risk of getting Hepatitis B. This includes healthcare workers, care home staff, prison or police officers, medical waste disposal staff, sewage workers, firefighters, and cleaners in medical settings.
If you work in one of these high-risk jobs, consider getting vaccinated against Hepatitis B for yourself or your employees.
Hepatitis B occurs worldwide, with the risk of getting the disease higher in some parts of the world, including:
East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
The Amazon
Southern parts of Eastern and Central Europe
The Middle East
The Indian subcontinent
Parts of South America
The rates of infection in Western Europe and North America are low.