Primary prevention

​Because HEV infection is typically acquired by the fecal-oral route in the developing world, travelers to endemic regions should take precautions to avoid exposure to potentially contaminated water, and avoid eating raw vegetables, fruit, or undercooked meat; note that boiling and chlorination of water will inactivate HEV.[1]​ Similarly, due to zoonotic transmission, particularly in Europe, travelers should avoid undercooked or poorly prepared meat products from pigs, wild boars, and deer.

Advise immunocompromised individuals and patients with chronic liver disease to avoid undercooked meat (pork, wild boar, and venison) and shellfish, and only consume meat that has been cooked to temperatures of at least 158ºF (70ºC).[2][41]​​​​

Effective HEV vaccines are in development, with trials yielding promising results.[42][43][44]​​ HEV vaccines are licensed for use in China; however, they are not yet available in other countries.[1]​​​​​​​

The European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) recommends that blood donor services screen blood donors for HEV, informed by local risk assessment and cost-effectiveness studies.[2] Several countries including the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Japan have introduced universal or targeted screening for HEV of blood donations.[45] Blood donations are not routinely screened for HEV in the US.

Secondary prevention

Despite the similarity with hepatitis A virus, there is no role for postexposure immune globulin treatment in HEV.

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