Maine CDC has noted a sharp increase in the number of acute
hepatitis B cases reported so far in 2016. There were 15 confirmed cases
of acute hepatitis B cases confirmed in Maine between January 1 and May 16, a
rate of 1.1 cases per 100,000 persons. There were no cases of acute
hepatitis B during the same time period in 2015. Maine CDC urges people
who are at risk to be vaccinated for hepatitis B, and practice preventative
measures to decrease risk of transmission.
The primary
risk factor for new cases of acute hepatitis B in Maine in 2016 is injection
drug use. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is 100 times more infectious than HIV and 10
times more infectious than hepatitis C virus. In addition, HBV can
survive on open air surfaces for up to seven days and in sealed containers for up
to three months. If individuals are injecting drugs, it is important that
they maintain their own injection kit and do not:
- Share injection equipment
- Inject others and then
inject self
- Inject on contaminated surfaces
Other persons at risk are:
- Infants born to infected
mothers
- Sex partners of infected
persons
- Sexually active persons who
are not in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship (e.g., more than
one sex partner during the previous 6 months)
- Men who have sex with men
- Household contacts of
persons with chronic hepatitis B health care and public safety workers at
risk for occupational exposure to blood or blood-contaminated body fluids
- Hemodialysis patients
- Residents and staff of
facilities for developmentally disabled persons
- Travelers to countries with intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B
Recommendations:
- Persons
at high risk for hepatitis B should be screened and vaccinated for
hepatitis A and hepatitis B, if susceptible.
- Patients
diagnosed with hepatitis C should be vaccinated for hepatitis A and B.
Vaccine resources:
No cost
hepatitis A and B vaccine is available for high risk patients through the Maine
CDC Adult Viral Hepatitis Program in 13 counties. Please contact the
Viral Hepatitis Coordinator for more information: 207-287-3817.
Reporting:
Health care providers should report
all cases of acute hepatitis B to Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821 immediately on
recognition or strong suspicion of disease. Cases of chronic hepatitis B
(conventional and rapid tests) should be reported within 48 hours of
recognition or strong suspicion of disease.
For more information:
