Declining prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus infection in Iceland

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Main Author: Briem, H
• Other Authors: Medical Department, City Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2011
• Subjects: Adult; Ambulatory Care; Female; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis Antibodies; Hepatovirus; Humans; Iceland; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/128349; https://doi.org/10.3109/00365549109023390

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was investigated in 445 outpatients in Iceland in 1987. No difference in anti-HAV prevalence according to sex or residence was found. The prevalence rates were low in persons less than 50 years with a sharp increase in persons greater than or equal to 50 years. The prevalence of anti-HAV was now significantly lower in the age groups of 40-49 years and 50-59 years than in 1979 indicating a cohort effect. These findings correspond to a marked decrease in notified cases of hepatitis (epidemic jaundice) after 1950 in Iceland.