Hepatitis A: A summary of a re-emerging public health menace and protective measures

The hepatitis A virus has re-emerged within the United States in areas such as Kentucky, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, among others. This outbreak has negatively impacted the health and safety of unaware and uneducated members of the general population. A lack of educational information from reliable sources about hepatitis A has caused some alarm and undoubtedly increased exposure incidences among the general public. The hepatitis A virus trend prompted this article, which serves as supplemental informational designed to (1) provide general background information regarding the virus, and (2) provide information to protect the general public from exposure. Essentially, if one suspects they have been exposed, they should seek medical treatment.