Hepatitis B in Poland in 2015

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of the epidemiological situation of hepatitis B in Poland in 2015 in relation to previous years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Evaluation of the epidemiological situation carried out based on analysis of data from individual reports on acute hepatitis B cases registered by the sanitary-epidemiological stations, aggregate data published in annual bulletins “Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland” and data from annual bulletin “Vaccinations in Poland”.

RESULTS: In total, 3 518 cases of hepatitis B were registered in 2015, including 24 cases of HBV/ HCV co-infections. Acute cases accounted for 1.5% of all recorded cases, with a sustained downward trend in incidence - 0.14 per 100,000. Incidence of acute hepatitis B was lower by 22% compared to the previous year. In group of children up to 14 years old, covered by universal vaccinations of neonates, 1 acute case was reported in a 4-month-old child. Most of acute hepatitis B infections (58%) were probably acquired during medical procedures performed in health care settings. The number of chronic and unknown (in terms of stage) cases registered increased in comparison with the previous year, the incidence was 9.0 per 100,000 population and was higher by 29% than in 2014. Chronic infections and UNK occurred 1.3-fold more frequently in men than in women and 1.5-fold more frequently among urban dwellers than in rural population. In 2015, three people died due to acute hepatitis B, and 57 people due to chronic.

CONCLUSIONS: The changes implemented in surveillance in 2014 allow for gradual reducing of territorial disparities and for assessment of the actual number of newly detected infections. Maintenance of a low incidence of acute hepatitis B provides the premise for sustain existing preventive measures, especially universal vaccination of newborns and recommendation to vaccinate of all persons previously unvaccinated.