Viral Hepatitis B, 2013

In 2013, 19 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.4 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. None of the 19 cases of acute hepatitis B were asymptomatic infections.

One hundred sixty-six reports of newly identified cases of confirmed chronic HBV infection were also reported. Prior to 2009, confirmed and probable chronic cases were reported in the year in which they were first reported. Beginning in 2009, only confirmed cases are reported. A total of 21,585 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 43 years.

Acute cases ranged in age from 19 to 69 years (median, 42 years). Fourteen (74%) cases were residents of the metropolitan area, including 8 (42%) in Hennepin County and 4 (21%) in Ramsey County. Fifteen (79%) cases were male, and 9 (47%) were adolescents or young adults between 13 - 39 years of age. Thirteen (68%) were white, 3 (16%) were Asian, 2 (11%) were black, and 1 (5%) was American Indian. No cases were known to be of Hispanic ethnicity. Incidence rates were higher among American Indians (1.3 per 100,000), Asians (1.2 per 100,000), and blacks (0.6 per 100,000) than among non-Hispanic whites (0.3 per 100,000).

In addition to the 19 hepatitis B cases, 1 perinatal infection was identified in an infant who tested positive for HBsAg during post-vaccination screening performed between 9 and 15 months of age. The perinatal case was born in 2012. The infected infant was born i n the United States and had received hepatitis B immune globulin and 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine in accordance with the recommended schedule and was therefore considered a treatment failure. Despite this failure, the success of a public health perinatal hepatitis B prevention program is demonstrated by an additional 332 infants born to HBV-infected women during 2012 who had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

• For up to date information see>> Hepatitis B
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2013