Acute non-B hepatitis in the Israel Defence Forces: comparison of some epidemiologic features before and after the usage of preexposure immune serum globulin prophylaxis.
Large-scale epidemics of non-B (HBsAg-negative) hepatitis have occurred in the Israel Defense Forces prior to post- and preexposure immune serum globulin administration. Presently, hepatitis morbidity rates have stabilized around 1 to 2 per 1,000. Several years after vaccine initiation, a comparison of epidemiological features was made in order to redefine risk groups. Seasonal morbidity, sex, ethnic origin and educational status (as a representative of socioeconomic level) were not different after the preexposure immunization compared to the preimmunization era. Therefore, a more selective immunization is proposed.
D000208:Acute Disease; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel