Hepatitis A virus infection in Taipei in 1999.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis A is a disease that is heavily affected by sanitation status. Hepatitis A is much less prevalent compared with decades ago in Taiwan, as in many rapidly developing regions. Hepatitis A vaccine is still self-paid under the National Health Insurance program and is still not widely utilized by the general public in Taiwan. This seroepidemiologic study evaluated the prevalence of antihepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) seropositivity in Taipei in 1999.


METHODS
A total of 1017 serum samples from healthy inhabitants in Taipei were examined for anti-HAV antibody by qualitative enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
The overall seroprevalence rate was 25.2% (255/1013) in the nonvaccinated population. The seropositivity rate for anti-HAV antibody among children younger than 12 months old was 23.3%. The rates dropped to between 1% and 4.8% among subjects between 1 and 20 years of age. A markedly higher rate of 40% was observed in subjects aged between 20 and 30 years. The seropositivity rate in subjects aged 31 to 50 was 80%. More than 90% of subjects older than 50 years were seropositive. The vaccination rate was low (0.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that Taipei is an area of intermediate endemicity for hepatitis A virus. To achieve better herd immunity, a more active approach to the adoption of hepatitis A vaccine is warranted.
Tseng
H Y
HY
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lu
C Y
CY
Lee
C Y
CY
Yeh
C C
CC
Lin
S C
SC
Shih
W Y
WY
Wu
S Y
SY
Chang
M H
MH
Huang
L M
LM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel; D014611:Vaccination
D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines