Infect Chemother.  2007 Dec;39(6):292-295.

Incidence and Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A Virus among Korean Auxiliary Police Officers

• Lee JM
• Park HK
• Choi KY
• Kim HK
• Jung JO
• Suh SO
• Kim ES
• Kim YK
• Kim S
• Kim YJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Korea, cases with hepatitis A have been reported to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the sentinel surveillance system. However, it was difficult to study the exact nation-wide incidence of hepatitis A infection. We studied the incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection and the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG among auxiliary police officers.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We analyzed clinically apparent and hospitalized hepatitis A patients from 2002 to 2006 in National Police Hospital via medical records. We also measured anti-HAV IgG antibody from 507 auxiliary police officers.
RESULTS
The estimated annual incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection among auxiliary police officers was 10.6-14.8 cases per 100,000 population from 2002 to 2006. The overall anti-HAV IgG seropositive rate among auxiliary police officers was 0.6% (3/507).
CONCLUSION
Among auxiliary police officers, the estimated annual incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection was above 10 cases per 100,000 population and the positive rate of anti-HAV IgG was very low. The results were comparable to those in the low endemicity countries. The routine HAV vaccination among auxiliary police officers might be suggested.

Keyword

Hepatitis A; Incidence; Seroprevalence; Police officers

MeSH Terms

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Hepatitis A Antibodies
Hepatitis A virus*
Hepatitis A*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Incidence*
Korea
Medical Records
Police*
Sentinel Surveillance
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
Vaccination
Hepatitis A Antibodies
Immunoglobulin G