An outbreak of acute hepatitis B infection among injecting drug users in Inverclyde, Scotland.
This large outbreak of acute hepatitis B infection among injecting drug users (IDUs) was precipitated by an increase in injecting heroin use in Inverclyde in the West of Scotland, between 1997 and 1999. Ninety-two cases of hepatitis B infection in residents of Inverclyde were reported to Argyll and Clyde Health Board from January 1996 to December 1999. An investigation of risk factors found 87% (80/92) of the cases were IDUs, of whom four-fifths were men. Fifty six per cent of cases were aged 20-29 years old and 12% were aged 16-19 years old. Further investigations among this close community of young and relatively inexperienced IDUs revealed that many admitted to sharing injecting equipment particularly spoons, water and filters. Only a minority had been using local needle exchange facilities in the area. After public consultation a second needle exchange was opened in 1998 staffed by a dedicated needle exchange development worker who has continued to develop harm reduction services locally.
Stevenson
J
J
Department of Public Health Medicine, Argyll and Clyde Health Board, Hawkhead Rd, Paisley, PA2 7BN. bguthrie@ed.ac.uk
Tannahill
M
M
Biggs
V
V
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*