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Published Date: 2016-02-11 13:40:54
Subject: PRO> Hepatitis B - USA (03): injection drug use, comment
Archive Number: 20160211.4012860
HEPATITIS B - USA (03): INJECTION DRUG USE, COMMENT
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A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Wed 10 Feb 2016
Source: Harry Hull <hfhullmd@gmail.com> [edited]
[Re: ProMED-mail Hepatitis B - USA (02): injection drug use, comment 20160206.3999152]
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Dr Jones comments that, because the average age of hepatitis B cases is 40 while the average age of hepatitis C cases is 30, it will be some time before we see the impact of infant immunization on hepatitis B transmission among injection drug users. An alternative interpretation of this data is that since routine immunization of infants against hepatitis B began 20+ years ago, immunization is already having the desired impact by preventing cases among drug users in their teens and early 20s. The net effect would then be that the average age of hepatitis B cases would rise, while the average age of hepatitis C cases would not. I agree that it will be some time before all hepatitis B transmission, both through injection drug use and other routes will be eliminated.
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Harry F Hull, MD
<hfhullmd@gmail.com>
[ProMED thanks Dr Hull for his comments. - Mod.LL
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/promed/p/106.]
See Also
Hepatitis B - USA (02): injection drug use, comment 20160206.3999152Hepatitis B - USA: (KY, WV, TN) injection drug use 20160130.3980173
2015
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Hepatitis B - USA: (NC) 20150613.3428825
Hepatitis C - USA (03): injection drug use, 2006-2012 20150509.3350569
Hepatitis C - USA (02): (CA) iatrogenic 20150501.3333701
Hepatitis C - USA: (MA) drug users 20150417.3302443
Hepatitis C, HIV - USA: (IN) 20150330.3265081
Hepatitis C & B - USA: (OH) 20150201.3134453
2013
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Hepatitis B - USA (02): (WV) comment 20131008.1990722
Hepatitis B - USA: (WV) acute cases increase 20131007.1988954
Hepatitis B & C, HIV - USA (04): (OK) possible dental exposure 20130607.1760955
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