Transcript Hepatitis B Infections Asymptomatic Cases 50% Symptomatic Cases

National policy on Hepatitis B
at the Workplace
Press conference
17 November 2009
Hepatitis B
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What is it?
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Hep B is a serious disease caused by a
virus that infects the liver
Can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (liver
scarring), liver cancer, liver failure and
death
Geographical distribution
HBsAg Prevalence
8% - High
2-7% - Intermediate
<2% - Low
Hepatitis B

Incubation period
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60-90 days on average (range 45-180
days)
infectious weeks before getting ill and for
variable period after acute infection
chronic carriers remain infectious
Hepatitis B
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Symptoms

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Nausea
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Fatigue
Fever
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Dark urine
Pale stool
Jaundice
Stomach pain
Side pain
A person may have all, some or none of these
Hepatitis B Infections
Asymptomatic Cases
50%
Symptomatic Cases
50%
Clear Virus; Healthy
90-94%
Hepatitis B Chronic Carriers
6-10%
Death
0.05%
Chronic Liver Disease
Death from Cirrhosis
1.7%
Death-Primary Liver Cancer
0.4%
Hepatitis B transmission

How do you get it?
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Direct contact with blood or body fluids of
an infected person
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sharing injection equipment
sex
baby from infected mother during childbirth
Hepatitis B is not spread by food, water
or casual contact
Hepatitis B carriers
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Who is a carrier of Hep B virus?
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Some people with Hep B never fully
recover from the infection (chronic
infection)
They still carry the virus and can infect
others for the rest of their lives
Hepatitis B prevention
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Hepatitis B vaccine:
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Safe
Effective: >90% of recipient become
immune
Recommended for workers with jobs where
exposure to blood might happen
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Mandatory for
Hepatitis B policy
Employer responsibilities
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Ensure safe and healthy working
conditions for employees who may be
exposed to blood or body fluids
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Risk assessment
Vaccination
Protective equipment
Medical care for exposure incidents
Employee responsibilities
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Ethical & legal obligations to safeguard
their health and that of their clients
If they have any reasons to believe they
may have been exposed to infection
with a blood-borne virus including HBV,
should promptly seek & comply with
confidential professional advice
Hepatitis B policy:
risk categories
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High
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Intermediate
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Significant risk of acquiring HB from others
Low
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Significant risk of acquiring HB from others
Potential to spread HB if a carrier
Potential risk of acquiring HB from others
Negligible
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Potential risk of acquiring HB from others
Hepatitis B policy:
action requirements
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High
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Intermediate
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Must receive HB vaccine and do immunity test
Low
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Must receive HB vaccine and do immunity test
If immunity test negative, tested for HB virus
If found to be a carrier, cannot perform exposure prone
procedures
Encouraged to receive HB vaccine and do immunity test
Negligible
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HB vaccine after risk assessment