The Disease

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. It is not caught by simply being near to someone with the disease, like many infections. Hepatitis B cam only be caught – with rare exceptions – form blood or sexual contact. Though common in many parts of the world, it is rare in the UK, where only 20 or 30 children catch the disease every year. Most people who catch the disease make a complete recovery, but some will go on to develop serious disease or liver cancer.

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