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Hepatitis B in Washington
State
DOH receives
approximately 100 to 150 reports of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV)
infections per year, for an average rate of 2.7/100,000
persons. Chronic hepatitis B and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)
carriage in pregnant women became reportable in 2000. There is
usually one death each year associated with fulminant acute
HBV infection.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- To identify sources of transmission (e.g., an infected
health care worker or a contaminated medical product) and to
prevent further transmission from such sources.
- To identify cases that may be a source of infection for
others (e.g., a sexual or drug contact) and to prevent
further disease transmission from such sources.
- To identify contacts and recommend appropriate
preventive measures, including hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG)
and immunization.
- To prevent transmission to children born to HBsAg +
women.
- To better understand the epidemiology of HBV and the
burden of morbidity from chronic infection.
Reporting Requirements
- Health care providers:
- Acute HBV: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
within 3 work days
- Chronic HBV (initial infection only): notifiable to
Local Health Jurisdiction within 1 month
- HBV surface antigen + pregnant women: notifiable to
Local Health Jurisdiction within 3 work days
- Hospitals:
- Acute HBV: notifiable to Local Health Jurisdiction
within 3 work days
- Chronic HBV (initial infection only): notifiable to
Local Health Jurisdiction within 1 month
- HBV surface antigen + pregnant women: notifiable to
Local Health Jurisdiction within 3 work days
- Laboratories:
- Notifiable within 1 month to Local Health
Jurisdiction of patient's residence
- Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH within 7
days of case investigation completion or summary information
required within 21 days –
- Acute HBV: Communicable Disease Epidemiology
- Chronic HBV: Infectious Disease and Reproductive
Health
- HBV surface antigen + pregnant women: Immunization
Program
Last update
Oct. 2006 |
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