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Comparative hepatitis A seroepidemiology in 10 European countries
Kurkela, S. | Hlth Protect Agcy | European Publ Hlth Microbiol Fellowship Programme |
Pebody, R. | Hlth Protect Agcy | |
Kafatos, G. | Hlth Protect Agcy | |
Andrews, N. | Hlth Protect Agcy | |
Barbara, C. | St Lukes Hosp | |
Bruzzone, B. | University Genoa | |
Butur, D. | Natl Inst Res & Dev Microbiol & Immunol Cantacuzi | |
Lietuvos AIDS centras | ||
Davidkin, I. | Natl Inst Hlth & Welf | |
Hatzakis, A. | University Athens | |
Hellenbrand, W. | Robert Koch Inst | |
Hesketh, L. M. | Hlth Protect Agcy | |
Nardone, A. | Hlth Protect Agcy | |
Nemecek, V. | Natl Inst Publ Hlth | |
Pistol, A. | Inst Sanatate Publ Bucuresti | |
Sobotova, Z. | Publ Hlth Author Slovak Republ | |
Vranckx, R. | Inst Publ Hlth | |
Anastassopoulou, C.G. | University Athens |
| Date Issued |
|---|
2012 |
The WHO recommends hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunization according to level of transmission and disease burden. We aimed to identify susceptible age groups by standardized serosurveys to inform HAV vaccination policy in participating countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, and Slovakia. Each country tested national serum banks (n=1854–6748), collected during 1996–2004, for anti-HAV antibodies. Local laboratory results were standardized to common units. Forty-one per cent of those aged <30 years and 6% of those aged o30 years were susceptible to HAV in Romania; compared to 70–94% and 26–71%, respectively, elsewhere. Romania reported high HAV incidence in children and young adults. Other countries reported HAV disease primarily in older risk groups. The results suggest low level of HAV transmission in most of Europe. Romania, however, appeared as an area with intermediate transmission. Vaccination of risk groups in countries with high susceptibility of young and middle-aged adults needs to be continued.