Hepatitis - By Food, Blood and Sweat The hepatitis B virus may be passed through sweat, a new study suggests. The finding has led to calls for the mandatory vaccination of athletes participating in contact sports, including the Olympics. Hepatitis B, and for that matter hepatitis C, was already known to be transmitted via blood and mucus. The other common form of viral hepatitis, hepatitis A, is often spread by fecal contamination of food and beverages. Viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can lead to jaundice, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Vaccines currently exist for hepatitis A and B but not for hepatitis C.