Epidemics of jaundice have been documented for millennia, especially during wartime. The infectious and transmissible aspects of jaundice became clear only in the last several decades.<sup>31 Zuckerman A.J. The history of viral hepatitis from antiquity to the present Viral Hepatitis: Laboratory and Clinical Science New York: Marcel Dekker (1983).  3-32

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Hepatitis A was the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis in the United States according to statistics for 1997, accounting for 47% of all cases.<sup>1 Alter M.J., Gallagher M., Morris T.T. , e al. Acute non A-E hepatitis in the US and the role of hepatitis G virus N Engl J Med 1997 ;  336 : 741-746  [cross-ref]

Cliccare qui per andare alla sezione Riferimenti</sup> Worldwide, large epidemics occur sporadically. The recent development of two highly effective vaccines offers an opportunity for the prevention of symptomatic hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, although cost is a significant issue for mass immunization worldwide.