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Hepatitis B

Cases = 77

Crude Rate (per 100,000 population) = 1.3

Race-Specific Rates (per 100,000 population)

White = 0.7
Nonwhite = 4.4

Sex-Specific Rates (per 100,000 population)

Male = 1.8
Female = 1.1

Hepatitis B is a bloodborne pathogen disease transmitted by direct contact with blood or body fluids that contain the virus, sexual contact with an infected person, or from an infected mother to her infant during childbirth. The incidence of this disease has been steadily declining in the United States over the past decade. There were 2.5 reported cases per 100,000 population in the United States in 1999, compared to 4.1 cases per 100,000 population in 1995.

In 1999, a record low number of cases of acute hepatitis B were reported to the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH). Figure 1 shows reported cases during the past five years.

Figure 1.

Rates of acute hepatitis B infection varied with age. The highest rate in Indiana is found in adults aged 30-39 years (2.8/100,000 population). Figure 2 shows the incidence of acute hepatitis B by age group.

Figure 2.

Sixty-two percent (62%) of cases were white and 38% were nonwhite. Although 62% of the cases were white, the percentage of nonwhite cases is greater than the percentage of nonwhite Indiana residents (10%). There were no reported deaths.

Risk factors for contracting hepatitis B were known for only 34 cases (Table 1). The disease transmission associated with tattooing involved the self-application of a tattoo.

Table 1.
Frequency of Patient-Recorded Risk Factors for Hepatitis B
Indiana, 1999

Risk Factor

Number of "Yes" responses*

Multiple sexual partners

9 of 28

Homosexual/bisexual

5 of 29

History of dental work

1 of 27

Injection drug use

1 of 28

Contact of a case

1 of 26

Accidental stick with a contaminated object

1 of 24

Application of a tattoo

1 of 25


*Cases may have multiple risk factors

 

The incidence of hepatitis b for counties reporting five (5) or more cases is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3.

 

Hepatitis C

Cases =3

Crude rate (per 100,000 population) = 0.05

In 1999, Indiana reported three persons residing in three counties who tested positive for the hepatitis C antibody and met the case definition for acute hepatitis C infection. Acute hepatitis C is reportable in Indiana. An acute case of hepatitis C must meet the following criteria: 1) discrete onset of illness, 2) jaundice or serum aminotransferase levels greater than 2.5 times the upper normal limit, 3) tests negative for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, and 4) antibody to hepatitis (anti-HCV) verified by a supplemental test. Two (2) cases were male. Cases ranged from 40 to 50 years of age.

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