Hep B Myth
THE MYTH: You can get hepatitis B from a mosquito bite.
THE REALITY: The results of experiments and observations of insect biting behavior indicate that when an insect bites a person, it does not inject its own or a previously bitten person's or animal's blood into the next person bitten. Rather, it injects saliva, which acts as a lubricant so the insect can feed efficiently. Diseases such as yellow fever and malaria are transmitted through saliva or specific species of mosquitoes.
Hepatitis B
Basic Facts
Hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world.
Hepatitis B is cause by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), which attacks and injures the liver.
One out of every 20 people in the US will become infected with HBV sometime during their lives.
Hepatitis B is called a ‘silent infection’ because most people do not have noticeable symptoms when they are first infected.
Hepatitis B causes no symptoms in about 69% of infected people.
Common symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, loss of appetite, and mild nausea and vomiting.
Approximately 95% of adults recover completely from HBV infection and do not become chronically infected.
About 5% adults will develop chronic hepatitis B and have the virus for their lifetime.
Transmission
Spread during vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has hepatitis B.
Spread by sharing needles or other drug supplies that have contact with blood.
Spread by contact with infected blood.
You can give hepatitis B to your sex and/or injection drug-using partner.
Risk Factors
Having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who has hepatitis B.
Having sex with more than 1 partner.
Are a man that has sex with other men.
Live in the same house as someone who has a chronic HBV infection.
Have a job that involves contact with human blood.
Inject Illegal substances/drugs.
Have hemophilia.
Birth to an infected mother.
Travel to areas where HBV is common (includes all countries except norther and western Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and North America except Mexico.)
Prevention
Get the three series hepatitis B vaccine.
Practice safe sex (use latex condoms).
Don’t share anything that could have an infected person’s blood on it (i.e. toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers, body piercing instruments).
Do not shoot drugs; if you shoot drugs, stop and get into a treatment program; if you can’t stop, never share “works” (needles, syringes, water, etc.) or any other drug paraphernalia and get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B.
Cover all sores and rashes and do not touch them.
Clean up any blood spills with a 10% solution of household bleach.
Infected people should not pre-chew food for babies.
If exposed to hepatitis B, get an HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin) injection within 14 days of exposure.
If you are a health-care or public safety worker, get vaccinated against hepatitis B, and always follow routine barrier and safely handle needles and other sharps.
The CDC has recommended that all newborn infants, adolescents, and others at risk be immunized.
