Hepatitis B is several times more infectious than HIV/AIDS. It can be transmitted through infected blood, semen, and other bodily fluids, as well as from mother to child during childbirth. The virus can survive outside the body for at least 7 days and can infect individuals who come into contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.

Hepatitis B can cause liver cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. Chronic infection with the virus can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, liver failure, and an increased risk of liver cancer.