May is Hepatitis Awareness Month
The Public Health Agency of Canada has released a new report on the impact of viral hepatitis within Canada.
At a Glance
- The reported numbers and corresponding rates of hepatitis B are decreasing,
particularly among age groups recommended to receive routine HBV immunization - The reported incidence of acute hepatitis B appears to be decreasing
- Sexual transmission appears to be the most common route of HBV infection,though injection drug use also contributes substantially to infection rates.
- Most cases of acute hepatitis B occurred in non-immunized people aged greater than 25 years
- Reported incidence is over three times as high among Aboriginal peoples as in non-aboriginal persons
