Epidemiology of Acute Hepatitis B in Texas, 2008

Background: Acute hepatitis B is a reportable condition in Texas. While acute hepatitis B incidence rates have decreased over the past 25 years, the rate of decline has fluctuated and rates have increased on multiple occasions. The incidence in Texas in 2007 was 3.1 cases per 100,000 population.

Objectives: To analyze the epidemiology of hepatitis B in Texas in 2008.

Methods: Local and regional health departments are notified by laboratories and/or providers about acute cases of hepatitis B. Health department staff then attempt to locate and interview the patient about symptoms, risk factors, and demographic information. The laboratory, clinical and other information is then entered into a computerized surveillance system. This information is electronically transmitted to the CDC for national surveillance purposes and can also be analyzed at the state or local level to assess disease trends.

Results: In 2008, the incidence rate of acute hepatitis B was 1.1 per 100,000 population, which reflects a case count of 562. There were an additional 8 cases of perinatal hepatitis B. The average age at diagnosis was 44 and cases were predominantly male (65.8%). For those with known race, 46.1% were white, non-Hispanic, 33.6% were Hispanic, and 17.2% were Black, non-Hispanic. Vaccine status was known for 19.8% of the cases and only 9.0% of those had received any hepatitis B vaccine.

Conclusions: Vaccination and other prevention efforts have decreased the incidence of acute hepatitis. However, progress can still be made in reducing the incidence of acute hepatitis B in Texas, particularly with regard to improved capture of vaccination status, elimination of perinatal hepatitis B transmission, and the identification of the risk status of acute cases to help target prevention efforts.