Who Gets Hepatitis B?
Causes of Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a serious global health problem and anyone can get it if they’re not vaccinated.
In fact, two billion people are infected with the hepatitis B virus.1 About 90 percent of them have the acute form of the disease from which they will fully recover.2 However, some 350 million are chronically infected with hepatitis B, which means they may have it for the rest of their lives.3 More than one million people worldwide die from the disease every year4
The highest number of hepatitis B cases are found in people aged 25-44, followed by people in the 15-24 age group.5 Additionally, men are nearly three times more likely than women to become infected with hepatitis B.6
Hepatitis B is more common in some parts of the world than others. In areas such as Africa, Asia and some Southern and Eastern regions in Europe, 10 percent of the population may be chronically infected.7
In other areas of the world, such as North America and Northern Europe, a smaller percentage of the population is infected with the hepatitis B virus. This is because most people in these areas are given a hepatitis B vaccine against the virus at birth.8
In Europe the number of chronic hepatitis B cases is approximately 15 million.9
Anyone can become infected with the hepatitis B virus. Since hepatitis B is transmitted from person to person through blood and body fluids, there are several ways that a person can get infected. Hepatitis B transmission methods can include:
| • | Being born to a mother who has hepatitis B. Pregnant women who have hepatitis B should ask their medical professionals about vaccinating their newborn babies to protect against infection |
| • | People who have unprotected sex with someone who is infected. People who have hepatitis B may not look sick so it is important to always use condoms |
| • | People who use illegal drugs and share needles or syringes |
| • | In some countries, people can also get the hepatitis B virus from visiting barbers who may not have clean razors |
| • | People who live in the same house as people who have the virus. If you are living with an infected person, you should be careful and not share personal items such as razors and toothbrushes |
| • | In some cases, people become infected with the virus during hospital stays |
| • | Medical professionals are also at risk for getting the hepatitis B virus and should follow proper procedures for protecting themselves |
References
1 World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/, accessed 20 June 20072 Hepatitis B Foundation, http://www.hepb.org/patients/acute_vs_chronic.htm, accessed 20 June 2007
3 World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/, accessed 20 June 2007
4 Hepatitis B Fact Sheet No. 204, World Health Organization Online Media Centre, accessed 16 January 2007
5 Microbes without Borders: Key Facts on Infectious Diseases in Europe, "Highlights from ECDC’s Annual Report on Infectious Diseases in Europe", 2007
6 Microbes without Borders: Key Facts on Infectious Diseases in Europe, "Highlights from ECDC’s Annual Report on Infectious Diseases in Europe", 2007
7 World Health Organization Media Centre, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/, accessed 13 June 2007
8 World Health Organization Media Centre, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs204/en/, accessed 27 July 2007
9 Zoulim F. EASL and Liver Research at the European Level. EASL 2005: p. 2