Which hepatitis virus has a symptom onset that can extend up to 2 months in slowly advancing cases?

Hepatitis A is characterized by a symptom onset that can indeed take up to 2 months in slowly advancing cases. This is important to note because Hepatitis A is often transmitted through the fecal-oral route, commonly via contaminated food or water. The incubation period for Hepatitis A ranges from about 15 to 50 days, with a typical average of around 28 days.

During this latency, the individual might not exhibit symptoms, which can delay diagnosis and lead to further spread of the virus, as people may not realize they are infected. Symptoms generally include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and jaundice, which can emerge suddenly after the incubation period.

Understanding this timeline is crucial for food safety managers, as they must ensure that food handling practices minimize the risk of contamination and understand the potential for delayed symptom onset in employees and customers.