Hepatitis A is a virus that infects the liver and is commonly spread through contaminated food or water. It is most prevalent in Central and South America, Asia, and Mexico. The virus reproduces in human cells and is able to spread to others if infected individuals come into contact with objects before symptoms appear. The hepatitis A virus can be prevented through vaccination which proved effective during a 2013 outbreak in California. Infected individuals may experience jaundice, fever, and stomach pains as the immune system works to eliminate the virus with the help of B and T cells.

1. Hepatitis A
By Maia

2. General Information
Also known as Hep A
discovered in 1973
Steven M. Feinstone discovered it
A virus
Carried by flies

3. What is a virus
A virus is something that is within a cell. A virus
reproduces by the cell moving around, then cell falls down
and collects the virus and the cells starts moving again,
with the virus locked onto it, then the cell explodes, which
spreads it even more.

4. What is Hep A and How it spreads
Hep A is virus that you get from food which a fly who is
carrying the disease has bitten in to. Then you eat that food
that has been infected with the disease.

5. What Parts of your body is Affected by
Hep A
Hep A infects the liver.

6. Where is the most common
places receive the disease?
Hep A is most common in Central and South America. Asia
(but not Japan), and Mexico.

7. Is Hep A Contagious
Yes it is. If you have gotten the disease, and don’t know
about, then you go around touching things that other
people might touch, then you are spreading the disease,
and other people will get it from you.

8. Is it preventable and How?
If worried about receiving this disease, or don’t believe the vaccine
will work, it will. In 2013, an outbreak of Hep A happened. 80
people in California had the disease, and 165 total people
received the disease. In total 11 of the children who had it, were
not vaccinated. Today it would be better to receive this shot, with
more and more people traveling to the United States who may
carry this disease. Just remember that the virus will have long
term damage on the liver

9. What you can do if you
are infected
Get the post shot, before two weeks is up
Don’t eat fast food
Don’t go out places touch things
If you have kids who are not vaccinated, they need to be

10. Symptoms
Yellowing skin and eyes
Sudden fever
Stomach pain

11. How does the immune system
respond and kill it?
There are two different cells, the B cell, and the T cell. They
both work together to kill the virus, so that you can be back
to good. But with Hep A, you also want to get the post shot
because it will help in the future.

12. Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav/>.
"GlobalHealth.gov Your Health, Our World." Hepatitis. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://www.globalhealth.gov/global-health-
topics/communicable-diseases/hepatitis/index.html>.
"Hepatitis A." - Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-
a/basics/definition/con-20022163>.
"Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A Virus Infections Linked to Pomegranate Seeds from Turkey (Final Update)." Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2013/a1b-03-31/>.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Immune Defense Against Viruses - Shmoop Biology." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web.
17 Dec. 2015. <http://www.shmoop.com/microorganisms-viruses/immune-defense-viruses.html>.
"Your Liver and Your Health | Reboot With Joe." Reboot With Joe. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2015. <http://www.rebootwithjoe.com/your-liver-and-
your-health/>.