For most travellers, hepatitis A and B are the main concerns, and vaccines are available to protect against both. Hepatitis C is much less of a risk for the average holidaymaker, as it spreads through blood rather than food, water or everyday contact. The risk is not zero, though, especially if your trip could involve medical treatment or other situations where blood exposure is possible.
How Do Hepatitis A, B and C Actually Differ?
The main differences between hepatitis A, B and C are how each virus spreads, whether there is a vaccine and whether the infection can become long-term. The table below summarises the key differences, in line with current NHS travel vaccination guidance.
| Type | How It Spreads | Vaccine Available | Can It Become Chronic? |
| Hepatitis A | Contaminated food or water | Yes, hepatitis A vaccine | No, usually clears on its own |
| Hepatitis B | Blood, body fluids, unprotected sex | Yes, hepatitis B vaccine (or combined) | Can become chronic, especially if caught young |
| Hepatitis C | Blood only (needles, unscreened transfusions) | No vaccine available | Often becomes chronic without treatment |
Why Hepatitis A and B Are the Bigger Everyday Travel Risk
Hepatitis A and B are the bigger everyday travel risks because they spread through routes most travellers encounter without realising it: contaminated food and water for A and sex or unsterile equipment for B, which is why both have a recommended travel vaccine.
- Hepatitis A spreads easily through contaminated food, ice or water in areas with poor sanitation.
- Hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids, including unprotected sex, shared needles and unsterile medical or dental equipment.
- Both risks rise in destinations with lower sanitation standards or limited infection control, common on many popular travel routes.
When Does Hepatitis C Become a Real Risk Abroad?
Hepatitis C is rare for typical holidaymakers, because, according to the WHO, it spreads only through blood, not food, water or casual contact. The risk rises for anyone exposed to unscreened blood or unsterile equipment, whatever the length of their trip.
Why Long-Stay Travellers Face Higher Risk
Long-stay travellers face higher hepatitis risk because more time abroad means more chances of needing local medical or dental care, which NaTHNaC lists as a recognised factor that raises exposure to hepatitis B and C alike.
Which Activities Abroad Raise Hepatitis C Risk
Certain activities carry a real hepatitis C risk regardless of trip length, mainly ones involving blood or unsterile equipment.
- Receiving a blood transfusion or medical treatment in a country with limited blood screening.
- Getting a tattoo, piercing or acupuncture with equipment that isn’t properly sterilised.
- Needing emergency dental or surgical treatment abroad.
- Sharing razors, needles or other items that could carry traces of blood.
What Are the Symptoms, and How Can You Protect Yourself?
Hepatitis A, B and C often cause similar symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, dark urine and jaundice, though many hepatitis C infections cause no symptoms at all. Because symptoms overlap so much, NICE recommends testing anyone at increased risk, since a blood test is the only reliable way to tell the three apart.
Protection differs sharply between the three. A hepatitis vaccine exists for both A and B, often given together as a combined hepatitis A and B vaccine, and either can be arranged as part of your hepatitis vaccine for travel plan. There’s currently no vaccine for hepatitis C, so avoiding blood exposure abroad remains the only real protection.
Get the Right Hepatitis Vaccine Before You Travel with Touchwood Pharmacy
It is better to arrange your travel vaccinations before you leave rather than worry about protection once you are abroad. Our team can assess your itinerary and recommend the right hepatitis vaccine for travel, including the combined hepatitis A and B vaccine where it suits your trip. Book a travel health consultation at your nearest Touchwood Pharmacy branch today, and head off with the right vaccines already in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between hepatitis A, B and C?
Hepatitis A spreads through contaminated food and water and clears on its own; hepatitis B spreads through blood and body fluids and can become chronic; hepatitis C spreads only through blood and has no vaccine, though it’s curable with modern antiviral treatment.
Do I need a hepatitis vaccine before travelling?
Most travellers to Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and parts of Eastern Europe are advised to have the hepatitis A vaccine, and often the hepatitis B vaccine too, depending on their itinerary and activities.
Is there a vaccine for hepatitis C?
No. There’s currently no vaccine for hepatitis C, so prevention relies on avoiding blood exposure, such as unsterile needles, unscreened transfusions, and unregulated tattoos or piercings.
What is the combined hepatitis A and B vaccine?
The combined hepatitis A and B vaccine protects against both viruses in a single course, usually three doses over six months, and is a common choice for travellers heading to higher-risk destinations.
Am I more at risk of hepatitis if I’m travelling long-term?
Yes. Long-stay travellers and those working, volunteering or living abroad face a higher hepatitis B and C risk than short-term holidaymakers, mainly through increased exposure to local healthcare, sexual contact, or unsterile equipment over time.
What are the early symptoms of hepatitis?
Early hepatitis symptoms often include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, dark urine, and jaundice, though hepatitis C frequently causes no noticeable symptoms at all, which is why testing matters if you think you’ve been exposed.
