As reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the scale of the hepatitis outbreak means that anybody may get infected. According to WHO, about 325 million people are infected with chronic hepatitis throughout the world. Infection with hepatitis B is three times greater than with hepatitis C. It is estimated that only 9 per cent of those infected with hepatitis B and only one fifth of those infected with hepatitis C are diagnosed. Most people infected with hepatitis B and C do not know about this and may spread the disease to others. Infectious hepatitis is caused by 5 types of viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Hepatitis viruses A, B, and C are most common in Lithuania.   Hepatitis A is spread via food and drinks that are contaminated with infected stool. Hepatitis virus A spreads not only via food, but also through faeces between people in close contact, e.g. in children’s education institutions, at home, social care institutions, especially if it is difficult to ensure personal hygiene due to lack of hygiene skills or behaviour. People who travel to countries where Hepatitis A is endemic, such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, India and Thailand face a great risk of becoming infected if they are not vaccinated. This is particularly true if they intend to live in these countries for a long time and have no guarantee of safe drinking water or personal hygiene conditions.  Hepatitis virus B is transmitted via all kinds of sexual relationships (vaginal, oral, anal), blood (by transfusing infected blood or its products, via unsterile needles/syringes, getting tattoos, ear piercing, using an infected person’s toothbrush, shavers, manicure, pedicure tools that may injure the skin or mucous membrane). A mother with hepatitis B may transmit the infection to her child during pregnancy or delivery.    Hepatitis virus C spreads in a similar way to B, but sexual or perinatal (by mother to child) transmission is rare.