Introduction: Hepatitis B (HB) incidence in Russia decreased from 36.6 in 1997 to 19.8 per 100,000 population in 2002. Despite this fact, there is an increasing transmission rate among young adults.
Study design: Survey of official epidemiological surveillance data from 1997 to 2002 and results of serological screening of the population in the Arkhangelsk region are represented.
Methods: Incidence of HB was compared and age-specific analysis was performed during the survey period. Immunofluorescent method was used to determine HB carriage status.
Results: From 1997 to 2002, incidence of HB increased from 11.3 to 12.1 per 100,000. Young adults between 15 and 29 years old were the most affected group in 2001 (more than 60% of all cases). The leading route of transmission in this group was intravenous one. Vaccination of newborns resulted in decrease of HB incidence among children under 14 years from 8.7 in 1997 to 4.5 per 100,000 in 2002. Serum of 13,128 future mothers was investigated in 2001, 208 women (1.58%) appeared to be positive (there were only 1.22% carriers in this group in 1999).
Conclusions: Analysed data show the importance of immunisation against Hepatitis B not only among newborns, but also among teenagers. In addition, special attention should be paid to the growing problem of Hepatitis B carriage among pregnant women.