World Hepatitis Day, a day of hepatitis illness awareness by the World Health Organization, took place yesterday globally.

Dr David Torr, Consulting Medical Health Officer for Cypress Health, says that contracting hepatitis is not uncommon for people in Saskatchewan.

"It is definitely an issue and there are a number of types of hepatitis which is really an inflammation of the liver and the infectious hepatitis the one that we deal with a lot and we do see regularly in the province and in the country in a number of cases."

Torr says the three types most common in North America are Hepatitis A, B and C.

In addition, Dr. Torr adds that its important for travelers to get vaccinated as well.

"And so we always advise travelers if they are going to a place where there could be contamination of water or food, to get a vaccine to prevent the Hepatitis A. Mostly it would be Central America, South America, Asia, Africa so it is quite widely distributed"

He adds that most school children in Saskatchewan are vaccinated against type B, but recommends travelers get vaccinated for Type A when leaving the country.