White = 1.9
Nonwhite = 2.8

Female = 2.1
Male = 3.2

Hepatitis A is transmitted most commonly from person to person via fecally-contaminated hands, food, or water.

In 1998, hepatitis A incidence in Indiana decreased substantially from the previous year and were below 1995 levels, a year in which the incidence of hepatitis A was particularly low (Figure 1).

Non-whites were 1.5 times more likely than whites to become infected with hepatitis A in 1998. Likewise, men were 1.5 times more likely to become infected than females. The age-specific incidence was highest among adults aged 30 to 39 years (3.3) followed closely by adults aged 50-59 (3.2) and adults aged 20-29 (3.0) (Figure 2). Children under the age of five are less likely to be reported than adults because they are less likely to be symptomatic.

Cases were more likely to be reported during the winter months(Figure 3).

Among counties with at least 5 cases reported, the incidence rate was highest in Grant (6.7), Porter (6.2), Vanderburgh (5.5), Marion (3.8), Lake (3.4), Allen (3.3), and St. Joseph (2.8) Counties (Figure 4).

Approximately 12% of the interviewed cases had been in contact with a known case of hepatitis A. Of the more common risk factors for hepatis A, male homosexual or bisexual contact and exposures to day care centers were more common than international travel, eating raw shellfish having multiple sexual partners, or intravenous drug use. Six (6%) of the interviewed cases were employed as foodhandlers during their infections. The reported risk factor data are summarized in Table 1.