Internet-based reporting of viral hepatitis B in Hubei province, 2008-2010

Objective To analyze the internet-based reporting of viral hepatitis B in Hubei from 2008 to 2010. Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted on the cases of viral hepatitis B reported in Hubei through internet-based reporting system from 2008 to 2010. Results The case number reported by county level medical institutions accounted for the largest proportion (about 40%). Among the different types of medical institutions, the cases reported by general hospitals accounted for the highest proportion (over 50%), followed by township health centers (12%-14%). Hepatitis B cases accounted for the highest proportion (86.66%) compared with other types of viral hepatitis cases. Among the hepatitis B cases, 80.68% were laboratory confirmed. The majority of the hepatitis B cases were chronic ones (56.54%), the acute cases accounted for 3.91%. Conclusion Great improvement had been made in the classified reporting of hepatitis B cases and in the reporting of laboratory confirmed cases, but it is necessary to further improve the quality of reporting to increase its reliability.