Surveillance of Hepatitis B in Malta : a four year trend

Abstract

Surveillance systems include three fundamental elements of ongoing collection, analysis and feedback or dissemination of the data. A surveillance system for Hepatitis B was established in 1988 in order to improve prevention and control of transmission of this endemic disease. A disease register including data obtained mainly from notifications, laboratory reports and active case finding was established. This paper shows the findings from 1990 to 1993. The system shown cannot claim to be complete. However the findings suggest that some 14 clinically evident cases of Hepatitis B are confirmed each year. No rising trend has been seen. In anyone year a prevalence of 15.4 x 10-5 HBsAg positive results in persons who had previously not known that they were positive may be detected. Six month follow-up of these persons reveals that some 39 persons become chronic carriers each year. This has implications both for the targeted vaccination programme as well as for the individual’s chronic liver complications and treatment.