Dear Fenglin Guo
Today's China Daily reports that this continues to be a problem in China. The infant vaccination programme is starting to show effectiveness in cities but much less so in rural areas.
You might find it helpful to go to the Hepatitis B Foundation website where this topic is discussed http://www.hepb.org/05-0239.hepb and http://www.hepb.org/05-0238.hepb There is also a WHO factsheeet also available online http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/index.html
Basically the following can be noted from these sites:
Hepatitis B is spread in the same way as HIV/Aids that is infected blood and bodily fluids. (Water borne Hepatitis is Hepatitis A)
Age at time of infection is an important factor
In western societies Hep B is mainly a disease of young adults. They have a sufficiently developed immune system which allows them to recover from infection to some degree. On the other hand in China and the developing countries the principle routes of transmission are mother to infant and child to child. The infant having an immature immune system is unable to fight the illness and thus becomes a chronic carrier, if they survive the illness. This adds to the total infection pool among the population.
This plus the sheer size of China's population contribute to the relatively higher incidence of Hep B among the Chinese population.
Hope this and the above references help.
Regards
Jim Robinson
Equality and Inclusion Facilitator
NHS Lothian University Hospitals Division
Royal Hospital for Sick Children
Sciennes Road
Edinburgh
EH9 1LF
Tel 0131 536 0055
Fax 0131 536 0001
-----Original Message-----
From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Fenglin Guo
Sent: 03 August 2005 12:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: reason for high rate of hepatitis B infection in China
Dear all:
I am wondering if anyone can help me. Please read the following
statistics. Does anyone know why China has such a high rates of
hepatitis B infections?
Rates of Hepatitis B
- Chronic HBV infection rates in U.S. and Western Europe (lowest):
0.1-0.5%
- Chronic HBV infection rates in Asia, Pacific and sub-Saharan Africa:
10% (5-20%)
- Chronic HBV infection rates in API Americans: 7% (approximately
840,000)
Foreign born API: 9% (range 5-15%)
U.S. born API: 1.4%
- Chronic HBV infection rates in Caucasian, Hispanic, or Black
Americans: 0.1%, 0.1%, 0.5%
- China has the greatest burden of chronic hepatitis B and liver cancer.
An estimated 130 million (10% of the population) has chronic hepatitis
B. Half a milllion die every year from liver cancer or end stage liver
disease caused by hepatitis B.
Thanks very much!
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