Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: Data from the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System from 1990 to 2007 and the Emergency Events Reporting System from 2004 to 2007 were reviewed and epidemiologic characteristics analyzed. Hepatitis A vaccine distribution between 1992 and 2007 was also reviewed. RESULTS: The incidence of hepatitis A has declined by 90% since 1990, from 56 to 5.9 per 10(5)/year. Declines in age-specific incidence were seen in all age groups, most dramatically among children younger than 10 years. Disease incidence still varies substantially: poorer western provinces have had the highest incidences since 2000. In high-incidence provinces, children younger than 10 years continue to have a high disease incidence. Only 50% of cases were laboratory-confirmed, and only 3% occurred in reported local outbreaks. Over 156 million doses of hepatitis A vaccine have been distributed since 1992, and use has continued to increase since 2003. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of hepatitis A has decreased in all age groups, likely due to changing socioeconomic conditions and increasing hepatitis A vaccine use. Nevertheless, western populations remain at high risk, with transmission predominantly occurring among children. The epidemiology of hepatitis A transmission is not well understood. Improved surveillance with better laboratory confirmation is needed to monitor the impact of universal hepatitis A vaccination of young children; this strategy began to be implemented in 2008.
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Authors | Fuqiang Cui, Stephen C Hadler, Hui Zheng, Fuzhen Wang, Wu Zhenhua, Hu Yuansheng, Xiaohong Gong, Yuansheng Chen, Xiaofeng Liang |
Journal | Journal of epidemiology
(J Epidemiol)
Vol. 19
Issue 4
Pg. 189-95
( 2009)
ISSN: 1349-9092 [Electronic] Japan |
PMID | 19561383
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Age Distribution
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- China
(epidemiology)
- Disease Outbreaks
(statistics & numerical data)
- Drug Utilization
(statistics & numerical data)
- Geography
- Health Transition
- Hepatitis A
(diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Hepatitis A Vaccines
- Humans
- Incidence
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Occupations
- Population Surveillance
- Sex Factors
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