Hepatitis B is For more information, contact: My partner was preventable. • Your healthcare provider • Your local health department diagnosed with Ask your local health department how to Localhealth.nj.gov Hepatitis B…what stay healthy. They can provide • Federally Qualified Health Center resources, such as where to get Directory vaccinated, healthcare providers that https://www.njpca.org/current-members/ does this mean? treat HBV, and more! • NJ Department of Health https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ How can I protect myself and Did you know? hepatitisb.shtml my family? • Centers for Disease Control and There is a vaccine that you and your Prevention (CDC) loved ones can get to protect against https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/ HBV infection. A series of shots over a index.htm few months can protect you.
HBV is the leading cause of liver cancer and often there are no symptoms. Get tested!
Other things you can do to not get infected with HBV include: not having unprotected sex, not sharing razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, needles and syringes, and glucose meters. HBV is mainly spread by blood and body fluids.
My partner was diagnosed with Hepatitis B…what does this mean?
C2774 Hepatitis B is NOT spread by: “I didn’t know much about v Food or water v Sneezing or coughing hepatitis B before I learned v Hugging or kissing my partner tested positive. v Holding hands or cuddling Now I know ways to keep me v Breastfeeding and my family from getting the virus.” Reasons to get vaccinated: v Protects you and others from getting infected with HBV. This includes passing HBV to your unborn baby. v Everyone who lives in the same How can I protect my family from home as a person with HBV should What is hepatitis B? know their status and get vaccinated getting hepatitis B? if they are not yet protected. Hepatitis B is an infection caused by a virus found in the blood. It can be spread during HBV can be prevented. A series of the v Protects against liver cancer. HBV is sex or through items that may have come hepatitis B vaccine can protect you and the leading cause of liver cancer in in contact with infected blood, such as your loved ones from getting the virus. the U.S. razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, needles Contact your local health department or and syringes, and glucose meters. The healthcare provider for information about Remember: hepatitis B virus (HBV) can live on surfaces where you can get the hepatitis B vaccine. for up to a week. In some cases, you may not have to pay If your partner has HBV, you should get for the shots. tested and consider vaccination.
What you need to know: Since HBV is spread through blood, don’t Sex is a common way to pass HBV from HBV is a disease that is spread through share personal care items and needles and one person to another. Do not have blood and body fluids. It is more common syringes with anyone. If you, or anyone unprotected sex until you know your in individuals who are from certain parts you live with has HBV make sure to cover status. Use a condom or other latex of the world. However, anyone who comes open cuts or sores to prevent exposing barrier protection. This includes oral, into contact with infected blood or body and infecting others. anal and vaginal sex. fluids is at risk. HBV often has no symptoms. Getting HBV may also be passed from mother to If your partner or someone who lives in tested is the only way to know if you have baby (perinatal transmission). If you are your house tests positive for HBV, you H B V. pregnant or planning to become should get tested to see if you have the pregnant, talk with your healthcare virus. If you don’t have the virus, get provider about getting tested and vaccinated. It is the best way to stay vaccinated. healthy.