The virus can be found in body fluids such as blood, semen, saliva and vaginal fluid, and it is transmitted through direct contact with these fluids. Direct contact means that some blood or body fluid from an infected person gets into your blood stream. This can occur through:¹

• unprotected sexual activity with an infected person
• contact with an open wound or wound dressing of an infected person
• sharing sharp instruments such as needles, razors, toothbrushes or earrings
• body piercing, tattooing and acupuncture with unsterilised needles
• birth (passing from an infected mother to her newborn baby)

Small traces of hepatitis B virus have been found in the sweat, tears, breast milk and urine of people infected with the virus, but these body fluids are not regarded as infectious.²