Viral Hepatitis B, 2014

In 2014, 16 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.3 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Three of the 16 cases of acute hepatitis B were asymptomatic, laboratory-confirmed infections.

Acute cases ranged in age from 23 to 66 years (median, 46 years). Thirteen cases were residents of the metropolitan area, including 8 in Hennepin County and 1 in Ramsey County. Twelve cases were male and 6 were adolescents or young adults between 13 -39 years of age. Race was known for 13 cases. Of those, 8 were white, 4 were black, and 1 was Asian. No cases were known to be of Hispanic ethnicity. Incidence rates were higher among Asians (0.4 per 100,000) and blacks (1.2 per 100,000), than among non-Hispanic whites (0.2 per 100,000).

We also received 197 reports of newly identified cases of confirmed chronic HBV infection in 2014. A total of 22,967 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 44 years.

No perinatal infections were identified in 2014. Infants born to HBV-infected women are followed in the Perinatal Hepatitis B Prevention Program and receive hepatitis B immune globulin, 3 doses of the hepatitis B vaccine, and post-vaccination serologic testing. The success of the Perinatal Hepatitis B Program is demonstrated by the fact that 322 infants born to HBV-infected women during 2013 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, 2014