Surveillance of 1500 hepatitis B cases in Ningbo

Objective To understand the incidence and risk factors of hepatitis B by epidemiological survey and laboratory test for reported hepatitis B cases. Methods All hepatitis B cases reported from 1 January 2006 to 30 June 2008 were surveyed and their blood specimens were collected and tested to confirm the diagnosis of hepatitis B. Results A total of 1500 hepatitis B cases were under surveillance during this period, including 1109 males and 392 females with the gender ratio was 2.83 ∶ 1. The average age was 36.8 years. Most hepatitis B cases occurred among the people aged 15-54 years, accounted for 87.00%. Farmers and workers were the major populations affected. Shaving in barber shop, pedicure in foot bath shop, dental surgery and family contact were the possible risk factors. In addition, surgery treatment and cosmeticizing with wound were the possible risk factors for women. It is estimated that the incidence of hepatitis B was 79.06/lakh (14.89/lakh for acute hepatitis B and 56.50/lakh for chronic hepatitis B) on the basis of laboratory confirmed cases. Conclusion The majority of hepatitis B cases under surveillance in Ningbo were chronic ones and the incidence of hepatitis B was lower than that reported through national notifiable disease reported system.