Hepatitis B virus is primarily spread through which means?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is primarily spread through specific high-risk behaviors, primarily unprotected sexual contact and sharing needles. This mode of transmission occurs because HBV is found in high concentrations in blood and other bodily fluids, making activities that exchange these fluids particularly risky. Engaging in unprotected sex with an infected individual places one at risk of exposure to these bodily fluids, while sharing needles, often associated with intravenous drug use, can directly transfer blood that carries the virus.

Other routes of transmission are less common. Contaminated food does not typically transmit HBV, as it is not spread through foodborne pathways. Airborne droplets are generally associated with respiratory viruses rather than bloodborne pathogens like HBV. Direct skin contact could facilitate transmission if there are open wounds or cuts involved, but this is not the primary means through which HBV spreads. Thus, the focus on sexual intercourse and needle sharing as the main transmission methods accurately reflects the epidemiology of the virus.