How could I get hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B spreads by contact with an infected person's blood, semen, or other body fluid.

You could also get hepatitis B by:

having sex with an infected person without using a condom

sharing drug needles

getting a tattoo or body piercing with dirty tools that were used on someone else

getting pricked with a needle that has infected blood on it (health care workers can get hepatitis B this way)

sharing a toothbrush or razor with an infected person

An infected woman can give hepatitis B to her baby at birth or through her breast milk.

You CANNOT get hepatitis B by:

shaking hands with an infected person

hugging an infected person

sitting next to an infected person