HEV
| OTHER NAMES |
HEV (Hepatitis E Virus) |
| ORGANISM |
Virus: hepatitis E |
| TRANSMISSION |
Hepatitis E is transmitted through eating or drinking contaminated food or water supplies, poor personal hygiene, and person to person (uncommon). |
| INCUBATION |
Fifteen to sixty days |
| TYPICAL SYMPTOMS |
May have no symptoms (especially young children). Some persons have mild flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light stools, jaundice, fatigue, and fever. |
| DIAGNOSIS |
Blood test. |
| TREATMENT |
There is currently no treatment for hepatitis E. |
| PREVENTION |
To prevent transmission of the hepatitis E virus avoid consuming potentially contaminated water or food. |
| DANGER |
Mortality (death rate) of those infected with hepatitis E is 1-2% although in pregnant women it approches 20%. |
| COMMENTS |
Occurrence of hepatitis E in the U.S. is very rare and is mostly associated with U.S. residents who travel to developing countries. |
DSHS Electronic Publication Number E13-11896