Chronic Hepatitis B Infection: Call for Testing, Vaccinating and Providing Treatment
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is highly infectious and transmitted via blood or sexual contact. Persons with chronic HBV infection (presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HBV DNA, or Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) for at least 6 months) require medical care as they are at increased risk for liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. It is estimated that there are over 23,000 cases of chronic hepatitis B infection in Alameda County, yet there are only about 8,000 cases documented in the California Reportable Disease Information Exchange (CalREDIE). Approximately 1 in 12 people born in countries where hepatitis B is endemic and living in Alameda County is potentially chronically infected. The Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) asks clinicians to:
- Test Patients for hepatitis B infection
- Vaccinate those who are susceptible
- Provide guideline-driven evaluation, monitoring and treatment for persons with chronic HBV
Hep B ACPHD Health Update - March 2019