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Publisher: Peytchinski, Gospodin Iliev
ISSN: 1312 773X (Online)
Issue: 2016, vol. 22, issue 1
Subject Area: Medicine
Pages: 1033-1035
DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2016221.1033
Published online: 09 March 2016
J of IMAB 2016 Jan-Mar;22(1):1033-1035
HEPATITIS B INFECTION IN EASTERN REGIONS OF BULGARIA
Tatina T. Todorova1
, Gabriela Tsankova1, Neli Lodozova2.
1) Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria
2) Medical College, Medical University Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Background: Bulgaria is a country of moderate endemicity for hepatitis B infection with 3-7% of the general population chronically infected with the virus. Since 1991, an obligatory vaccination has been implemented for all healthy newborns. As a result, twenty years later, hepatitis B prevalence is significantly reduced but viral hepatitides still represent an important public health problem that needs to be addressed especially in some ethno-religious and regional groups.
Purpose: No recent published data are available about hepatitis B circulation in Bulgaria and in its Eastern part particularly. In the current study, we analyze the epidemiological data on hepatitis B cases in easternmost Bulgarian regions and try to determine the possible risk, which the infection poses to public health in these regions.
Material/Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis (2008-2014) using epidemiological data from the National surveillance system for hepatitis B notification.
Results: The incidence of acute hepatitis B in all considered regions has been durably decreasing for the last seven years: while in 2014 its total value was 9,69%000, in 2014 it reached a minimal rate of 3,09%000. We found that young individuals in their 20s years (the borderline generation before and after implementation of mandatory vaccination) are most vulnerable to hepatitis B. South regions are also more affected by hepatitis B infection when compared with regions on the North.
Conclusions: We reported a stable downward trend in the incidence of hepatitis B infection in all studied regions of Bulgaria. This result can be directly linked with the presence of effective vaccination program at national level.
Key words: Hepatitis B, incidence rates, epidemiology, eastern Bulgaria,
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Please cite this article in PubMed Style or AMA (American Medical Association) Style:
Todorova TT, Tsankova G, Lodozova N. Hepatitis B infection in eastern regions of Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2016 Jan-Mar;22(1):1033-1035. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5272/jimab.2016221.1033.
Correspondence to: Tatina T. Todorova, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University Varna; 55, Marin Drinov Str., 9002 Varna, Bulgaria; E-mail: tatina.todorova@abv.bg
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Received: 15 December 2015
Published online: 09 March 2016