Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in a Canadian Inuit community.

• Main Authors: Minuk, G. Y., Waggoner, J. G., Jernigan, R., Nicolle, L. E., Postl, B., Hoofnagle, J. H.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1982
• Subjects: Research Article; Northwest Territories; Baker Lake; inuit
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1862238; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7139503

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis A in a Canadian Inuit population, serum from 85% of the 850 inhabitants of Baker Lake, Northwest Territories, was tested by radioimmunoassay for antibody to the hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). The overall prevalence of anti-HAV in the community was 71%. Exposure to the virus occurred early in life, such that by the age of 6 years 53% of the children had anti-HAV in their serum. The rate approached 100% by the age of 50 years. These findings document the ubiquitous nature of the hepatitis A virus in this northern Inuit settlement and suggest that immunoprophylaxis be considered for individuals taking short-term employment in such places.