Hepatitis B in Poland in 2001

2,394 cases of hepatitis B (including 114 infections with both HBV and HCV) were reported in 2001 in Poland; the incidence rate was 6.2 per 100,000 population. The total number of cases decreased by 431 and incidence rate by 1.1 comparing to 2000. From 1993 to 2001 decline in number of cases was 5.5 times. This decline was mainly the result of vaccination of children and high risk patients though the improvement of sterilisation procedures could be of significance, especially in persons below 60 years of age. About 96.3% of all cases were hospitalised. Regional differences in both, the incidence rate and percentage of hospitalizations were observed. The incidence of hepatitis B per 100,000 was higher in urban (7.0) than in rural (4.9) population. The lowest incidence (0.4) was observed in children aged 0-4 years; in older children (5-9 years of age) the incidence rates were 4.5 in boys and 2.2 in girls. The highest ranging incidence, from 5.5 to 8.2 was found in the age group 15-24 years, especially in boys and young men (from 7.4 to 11.6) living in urban areas.