Dangers and symptoms

Hepatitis B (HBV) is regarded as the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide. Chronic carriers endure ongoing symptoms such as inflammation of the liver, which may eventually lead to cirrhosis and cancer.

Although about one in three of the world's population is infected by HBV, about 50 per cent of those who carry the virus never develop symptoms; and about nine out of 10 people infected with HBV

will eventually clear the virus from their bodies.

Of infected adults, 5 to 10 per cent will become chronic hepatitis B carriers, often without knowing it. As with hepatitis C, the disease is usually contracted through the blood and cannot be transmitted via casual contact.

Hepatitis A can be transmitted through food.

Hepatitis B is usually transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles and syringes, and transmission from mother to child during childbirth.