title: Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in United States-bound refugees from Asia and Africa.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of active hepatitis B and C virus infections among refugees from various countries in Africa and Asia. Pre-admission serum samples collected during 2002-2007 from refugees originating from Bhutan (N = 755), Myanmar (N = 1076), Iraq (N = 1137), Laos (N = 593), Thailand (N = 622), and Somalia (N = 707) were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. The HBV DNA (genotypes A, B, C, and G) was detected in 12.1% of samples negative for anti-HBs. Highest HBV prevalence was found among Hmong; lowest among Bhutanese. The HCV RNA (genotypes 1a, 1b, 1c, 3b, 6n, and 6m) was detected in 1.3% of the samples. Highest HCV prevalence was found among Hmong from Thailand; lowest among Iraqis. Screening specific refugee groups at high risk for viral hepatitis infections will identify infected individuals who could benefit from referral to care and treatment and prevent further transmissions.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota zdy0@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Tonya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mixson-Hayden
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ganova-Raeva
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drobeniuc
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Eyasu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Teshale
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Minnesota, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Saleem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamili
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012036:Refugees; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral
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