Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus interferes with the functions of the liver and causes  51  damage. A small percentage of infected people cannot get rid of the virus and become  52  infected—these people are at higher risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

HBV is spread  53  blood or body fluids of an infected person—the same way as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, HBV is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV. The main ways of  54  HBV are A) from mother to baby at the birth (perinatal), B) from child-to-child, C) unsafe injections and transfusions, and D) unprotected sexual contact. Worldwide, most infections occur from mother-to-child, from child-to-child (especially in household settings), and from reuse of  55  needles and syringes. Before the widespread use of the hepatitis B vaccine, almost all children in developing countries used to become infected with the virus.

However,  56  the conventional beliefs, hepatitis B virus is NOT spread by  57  eating utensils, breastfeeding, hugging, kissing, holding hands, coughing, sneezing or by recreational use of public pools or  58 .

One can protect himself/herself against hepatitis B by being  59 . The hepatitis B vaccine has an outstanding record of safety and effectiveness, and since 1982, over 1 billion  60  have been used worldwide. The vaccine is 95% effective in preventing chronic infections from developing. Protection lasts for 20 years at least, no booster is recommended by WHO as of today.