Chou An liang, a doctor in the hospital's Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, said that the hepatitis A virus is most commonly transmitted by the fecal-oral route via contaminated food or drinking water, and he urged people who eat out to make sure to choose restaurants that are sanitary.

Noting that early symptoms of hepatitis A infection can be mistaken for influenza, Chou said that people who experience fatigue or loss of appetite should immediately have a blood test to see if they have been infected, as the disease can lead to liver damage and even death if not treated properly.

Chou noted that according to the latest Department of Health tallies, 82 cases of hepatitis A infection had been reported this year in Taiwan as of the end of March, or nearly double the amount for the same period of the previous year.