May is Hepatitis Awareness Month.

The Knox County Health Department wants the public to improve their understating of viral hepatitis transmission, and its risk factors,

The department is also working to decrease social stigma against the disease.

Health officials says several different viruses can cause hepatitis; the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.  All are liver infections.

Hepatitis A is  virus found in the stool and blood of those infected with the disease and is very contagious. It is spread when someone unknowingly ingests the virus through close personal contact with an infected person or through eating contaminated food or drink.

Hepatitis B is spread through blood, semen or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected.

Both A and B can be prevented with a vaccine.

Hepatitis C  is spread through contact with blood from an infected person. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia or by getting piercings or tattoos in unlicensed or unregulated facilities. Hepatitis C can become a long-term chronic infection and result in life-threatening health problems,   C can often have no symptoms, but when they do appear it is often a sign of advanced liver disease.

There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C, but it can be treated and cured with complete and proper therapy.

The Knox County Health Department offers vaccinations for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B at no cost to the patient.  No appointment is necessary.

Testing for Hepatitis C is also available at no cost to the patient.  An on site Hepatitis C clinic is now available for treatment and follow-up.