There are things that you can do to help protect yourself and others from the risk of hepatitis A.

Whether you are traveling to or living in areas where hepatitis A is endemic, or are at increased risk of contracting hepatitis A because of your work or lifestyle, most cases of hepatitis A can be avoided if you:

• Try to avoid drinking beverages and/or using ice cubes made from untreated water. Whenever possible, choose commercially bottled or canned beverages, carbonated water, soft drinks and fruit juices.
  
  
• Do not eat peeled fruits (unless you peel them yourself), salads, uncooked vegetables, or raw shellfish (e.g., clams, oysters and mussels). These foods can be contaminated with hepatitis A virus, even in "western" style restaurants and resorts.
  
  
• If you are eating food bought from a street vendor, choose food that is cooked directly in front of you. These items are likely to be safe if served fresh and hot. Avoid beverages unless they are commercially bottled.
  
  
• Always wash your hands before you eat.

Hepatitis A can also be avoided through vaccination with a hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (IG) or both.

Hepatitis A vaccines provide long-term protection (generally for years) against hepatitis A. The vaccines contain a killed or inactive virus that does not cause hepatitis A, but does stimulate the body's immune system to make the antibodies that help protect against the virus.

Immune globulin (IG) contains antibodies (or protective proteins) to the hepatitis A virus and provides short-term protection against hepatitis A disease (generally 3 to 5 months).

In cases when both immediate and long-term protection are needed, such as urgent departures to endemic or outbreak areas, a hepatitis A vaccine and IG can be given at the same time.