Can I share food or utensils with HBV carriers?

Can I share food or utensils with HBV carriers?
Of course, you can!

Let me show you some facts about HBV.

In Practice Guideline for Chronic Hepatitis B from The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD):

Children and adults who are HBsAg-positive:
* Can participate in all activities including contact sports
* Should not be excluded from daycare or school participation and should not be isolated from other children
* Can share food, utensils or kiss others

For more information, visit the links below:
https://www.aasld.org
https://www.aasld.org/eweb/docs/chronichep_B.pdf


How hepatitis B is transmitted?

1. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through unprotected (without using a condom) sex.
2. Occurs when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected.
3. Pregnant women infected with hepatitis B can pass the virus on to their babies.

HBV is not spread through food or water or by casual contact. For example, you CANNOT get hepatitis B by hugging or dining with someone who is infected.

Recommendation: Getting vaccinated.

How long does hepatitis B vaccine protect you?
Recent studies indicate that immunologic memory remains intact for at least 23 years and confers protection against clinical illness and chronic HBV infection, even though anti-HBs levels might become low or decline below detectable levels.

From: US Department of Health and Human Services

For more information, click on the link below:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm