The Hepatitis A virus (HAV), also known as hepatovirus A, is a non-enveloped, spherical single stranded RNA virus with a genome of 7.5 kb. Its natural hosts are humans and other vertebrates, and transmission occurs through the fecal-oral route and by blood contact. Hepatitis A infection does not cause chronic liver disease, but can cause acute liver failure. HAV has an incubation period of 14-28 days. There are an estimated 114 infections per year, mostly occuring in regions wtih poor sanitation.