title: Hepatitis A in south-eastern Sydney 1997-1999: continuing concerns for gay men and an outbreak among illicit drug users.
abstract: The incidence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in south-eastern Sydney is one of the highest in Australia with large outbreaks previously associated with male-to-male sexual contact. We report HAV notification trends over the period 1 June 1997 to 31 May 1999 for this location. In the first twelve-month period, 233 cases were notified (crude rate 30.5/100,000 per year) with a peak incidence of 110/100,000 in males aged 20-39 years. Over 60% of male cases reported male-to-male sexual contact. The notification rate (crude rate 15.5/100,000) and proportion of males (61%) was considerably lower in the following twelve month period with 118 cases notified. Less than a third of males reported male-to-male sexual contact. An outbreak (n = 45) of HAV among illicit drug users and their contacts was detected in December 1998. The transmission of HAV remains endemic in south-eastern Sydney. Vaccination among high-risk groups remains an important preventive strategy.
authors.affiliation: South East Sydney Public Health Unit, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia. VDELP@doh.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Delpech
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Thackway
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pontivivo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smedley
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications