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. 2018 Oct;99(4):1058-1061.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0232.

Epidemiology of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E Based on Laboratory Surveillance Data-India, 2014-2017

Manoj V Murhekar  1 , M Ashok  1 , K Kanagasabai  1 , Vasna Joshua  1 , M Ravi  1 , R Sabarinathan  1 , B K Kirubakaran  1 , V Ramachandran  1 , Vishal Shete  1 , Nivedita Gupta  2 , Sanjay M Mehendale  2
Affiliations

Epidemiology of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E Based on Laboratory Surveillance Data-India, 2014-2017

Manoj V Murhekar et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2018 Oct.

Abstract

Hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses (HAV and HEV) are the most common etiologies of viral hepatitis in India. To better understand the epidemiology of these infections, laboratory surveillance data generated during 2014-2017, by a network of 51 virology laboratories, were analyzed. Among 24,000 patients tested for both HAV and HEV, 3,017 (12.6%) tested positive for HAV, 3,865 (16.1%) for HEV, and 320 (1.3%) for both HAV and HEV. Most (74.6%) HAV patients were aged ≤ 19 years, whereas 76.9% of HEV patients were aged ≥ 20 years. These laboratories diagnosed 12 HAV and 31 HEV clusters, highlighting the need for provision of safe drinking water and improvements in sanitation. Further expansion of the laboratory network and continued surveillance will provide data necessary for informed decision-making regarding introduction of hepatitis-A vaccine into the immunization program.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map of India showing location of Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Average number of patients tested for hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus per month and percentage of positive tests—India, 2014–2017.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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