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Show Infectious Diseases Hepatitis A Compiled by Kasey Poon 2001 Utah Reported Hepatitis A Cases: 66 Hepatitis A is an inflammatory disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis A virus. It is the most common type of hepatitis in the U.S. The virus is found in the feces of infected persons and is usually spread via contaminated food or water. Close intimate contact (household or sexual), or diaper changing may also spread the virus. Risk factors for contracting the virus include living in a western state, international travel, illegal drug use, daycare employment, and poor sanitation. From 1987-1997, Utah ranked fifth in the nation for incidence rates of new cases, and was one of eleven states for which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended routine childhood Hepatitis A vaccination (Table 1). The incidence rate of reported cases of Hepatitis A in Utah (Figure 1) in 2001 was 2.8 per 100,000 population, which is the lowest it has been in the past ten years. This steady decline in new cases can be attributed to better hygiene (e.g. thorough hand washing), especially during food preparation, and the natural cycle of the virus. Table 1. Utah and New Cases per 100,000 Population of Hepatitis A, United States, 1992-2001. (NA=Not Available).3 Utah United States Year New Cases Incidence Rate New Cases Incidence Rate 1992 695 38.2 12,112 9.1 1993 828 44.1 24,238 9.4 1994 754 39.0 26,796 10.3 1995 696 35.2 31,582 12.1 1996 1073 53.0 31,032 11.7 1997 550 26.6 30,021 11.2 1998 196 9.3 23,229 8.6 1999 64 3.0 17,047 6.2 2000 71 3.2 13,397 4.9 2001 66 2.8 NA NA Figure 1. New Cases per 100,000 Population of Hepatitis A, Utah and the United States, 1992-2001. 60 o 50 -o ? 40 O ¦a 30 20- 10 - Utah U.S. 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Year Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Summary of notifiable diseases, United States, 2000. MMWR 2000;49(53): 82,84,86. [Online] www.cdc.gov/*mn\w/PDF/vvk;mrn4953.pcif Retrieved 3/14/03. Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology. [Online]. t ?j?jjeij i \ Retrieved 3/14/03. U.S. Census Bureau. [Online] Iitfj3^7eire_cens> Retrieved 3/14/03 Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume DC |