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. 2001 Nov;12(6):341-4.
doi: 10.1155/2001/834670.

Current hepatitis A status in Canada

J Wu  1 , S Zou, A Giulivi
Affiliations

Current hepatitis A status in Canada

J Wu et al. Can J Infect Dis. 2001 Nov.

Abstract

Hepatitis A, caused by the hepatitis A virus, occurs most frequently in developing countries, but also causes sporadic cases or outbreaks in industrialized countries. The most common route of transmission is fecal-oral. The incidence of hepatitis A varies with geography, and economic and environmental conditions. The epidemiological pattern of the disease has changed with improvements in hygiene and economic conditions. The incidence and prevalence of hepatitis A has decreased, while the average age of exposure and subsequent infection has increased. The present report describes the current status of hepatitis A in Canada. The incidence rate of reported cases in Canada varies from over 10/100,000 (1991) to 3.6/100,000 (1998), and is higher in males, 4.7/100,000 (1998), than in females, 2.5/100,000 (1998). The highest reported hepatitis A rates are in age groups 30 to 39 years and 40 to 59 years, and in British Columbia. Such information is important for assessing current immunization approaches and for decision-making about new preventive strategies against hepatitis A in Canada.

Keywords: Epidemiology; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A virus; Viral hepatitis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Annual nationally reported cases of hepatitis A in Canada from 1990 to 1999 (1999 numbers are preliminary)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Numbers and rates of nationally reported hepatitis A cases in Canada by sex and age group in 1998. F-Rate Female rate; M-Rate
Figure 3
Figure 3
Rates of nationally reported hepatitis A cases in Canada by province or territory in 1998. AB Alberta; BC British Columbia; F-Rate Female rate; MB Manitoba; M-Rate Male rate; NB New Brunswick; NF Newfoundland; NS Nova Scotia; NWT North-West Territories; ON Ontario; PEI Prince Edward Island; QC Quebec; SK Saskatchewan; YT Yukon Territory.
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