Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis B virus in China

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is prevalent in China. Approximately 600 million people have ever been infected by HBV. About 130 million are HBV chronic carriers and 30 million HB patients. Among them, 50% of HBV carriers are caused by carrier mothers to born infants. Around 300 000 people died of liver disease including liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma each year and 50% of them died of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV infection is not only the health problem but also becoming a social problem. HBV chronic carriers and patients have endured the great pressure from disease burden and social discrimination. According to the report of the national screening program of HBV released by the ministry of health in 2008, China has taken many effective measures to control the HBV infection, including vaccine immunization program, strengthening the management of blood sources and blood productions, prevention of nosocomial HBV infection, strengthening health education on HBV infection and safe injection techniques. The implementation of HB vaccine immunization program, which China officially introduced into the national immunization program since 1992, has dramatically reduced the incidence of HBV infection among infants and children. Integrated with other interventions, the rate of HBV infection decreased gradually. According to the survey of the national screening program of HBV in 2006, compared with the incidence of HBV in 1992, the incidence rate of HBsAg positive has decreased 26.36%, the number of children who have ever been infected by HBV decreased 80 million since 1992. However some problems are still existing. The solutions of low rate of vaccination in rural areas and migration population, lacking of practical measures on management of hepatitis B patients, the occurrence of health care acquired HBV infection, and low rate of vaccination among high risk groups have also been recommended.