title: Hepatitis A in Western Austria--the epidemiological situation before the introduction of active immunisation.
abstract: Several European countries report a decreasing prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). This trend is most pronounced in the youngest age groups. In 1979, however, 58% of young Austrians aged 20 to 30 years were shown to possess anti-HAV. Here we describe the current epidemiological situation in western Austria. Prevalence of anti-HAV has decreased to 7% in those 18 to 30 years old. This percentage rises to 20% (31 to 40 years of age) and 57% (41 to 50 years of age) and is highest in those older than 50 years (87%). Of 180 cases of clinical hepatitis A occurring from 1985 to 1992 45% were imported by travel to HAV-endemic areas. Seventy-one percent of the cases in children (59/83) occurred in foreign workers' families and were also predominantly acquired abroad. A change in prevention policy should be considered in this respect, as vaccination is available now.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Hygiene, Universität Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Prodinger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larcher
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Sölder
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geissler
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dierich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014611:Vaccination; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines