The epidemiology of acute hepatitis A in north Queensland, 1996-1997.
Details on all cases of hepatitis A notified in North Queensland in 1996 and 1997 were prospectively collected. There were two substantial outbreaks and a total of 225 cases during this period. The total incidence rate (per 100,000) was 11.0 in 1996 and 27.0 in 1997. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders constituted 29% of cases and had incidence rates of 75.2 and 62.7 per 100,000 for 1996 and 1997 respectively. Thirty-nine cases (17.3%) were admitted to hospital for a total of 202 bed-days and a 4 year old died with fulminating hepatitis. A probable source of infection was identified for 69% of cases. The common risk categories for infection were: living in or visiting a rural Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, injecting drug use, contact with a known case of hepatitis A, and travel to countries with endemic hepatitis A.
Merritt
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A
Public Health Registrar, Tropical Public Health Unit, Cairns, Queensland. tmerritt@medeserv.com.au
Symons
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D
Griffiths
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018563:Disease Notification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution