epidemiology

Hepatitis B is endemic in most of Africa, central and south-east Asia, equatorial South America, northern Canada and Alaska, and the Pacific Islands. 

Picture courtesy of http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/slideset/hep_b/slide_9.htm

Groups at high risk of contracting Hepatitis B:

• Sexually active individuals with multiple partners

• Sexually active homosexual males

• Intravenous drug users

• Healthcare workers or other professionals regularly exposed to human blood

• Hemophiliacs

• People traveling to areas with endemic HBV

Most of these groups are at high risk due to behavioral factors.  Risk of becoming infected with HBV is minimized by changing risky behaviors (e.g. IV drug use or unprotected sex) and, of course, by getting vaccinated.  Even so, approximately 1 in 20 people in the United States will be infected with HBV over the course of their lives.

In addition, certain ethnic groups are at higher risk of being carriers, which means they are chronically infected with HBV.  These groups include:

• Indigenous Alaskans

• Pacific Islanders

• Australian Aboriginals

• Maoris

• Indigenous people of the Amazon River Basin

Sources:

CDC Hepatitis B website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/b/faqb.htm

Gideon Online: www.gideononline.net

Strauss, James and Ellen.  Viruses and Human Disease.  Academic Press, San Francisco: © 2002.