Current status and strategies for hepatitis B control in Korea

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most common cause of chronic liver diseases in Korea. After the introduction of the universal HBV vaccination program, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was markedly reduced, and Korea is now classified as an area of intermediate endemicity for HBV. However, there are still hurdles for elimination of hepatitis B, such as immunoprophylaxis failure against vertical transmission, occurrence of acute hepatitis B among peoples who did not have vaccination at younger age, and rapid increase of immigrant populations from HBV endemic areas. To achieve the World Health Organization goal of viral hepatitis elimination by 2030 in Korea, we suggest comprehensive policies for more effective control of hepatitis B as following: i) insurance coverage for antiviral prophylaxis in mothers with high viremia, ii) screening for hepatitis B seromarkers and catch-up HBV vaccinations of susceptible persons with hepatitis B, iii) establishment of an independent 'viral hepatitis sector' in Centers for Disease Control & Prevention to organize and execute comprehensive strategy for management of viral hepatitis, iv) encourage of management of HBV infection in immigrant populations, v) national campaign to promote awareness of hepatitis B.

Keywords: Hepatitis B; Korea; Viral hepatitis.

Figure 1.

Prevalence of HBsAg by age and sex group. Adopted from Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey in 2014.

Figure 2.

A nationwide seroprevalence of HBsAg in 2009, Korea. Presented in 18th annual meeting of the Korean Association for the study of the Liver.

Figure 3.

Age distribution of acute hepatitis B. Adopted from the Korean Journal of Hepatology; 2011 [5].

Figure 4.

Korean program for implementing perinatal transmission prevention. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016).

Figure 5.

Trends in the prevalence of HBV infection according to implementation of national HBV vaccination program. Source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016). HBV, hepatitis B virus.