Viral Hepatitis B, 2016

In 2016, 21 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.4 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Two of the 21 cases were asymptomatic, laboratory-confirmed infections.

Acute cases ranged in age from 21 to 72 years (median, 42 years). Fifteen (71%) cases were residents of the metropolitan area, including 10 (48%) in Hennepin County and 2 (10%) in Ramsey County. Seventeen (81%) cases were male, and 9 (43%) were between 13-39 years of age. Race was known for 20 cases; of those, 13 were white, 5 were black, and 2 were Asian. No cases were of Hispanic ethnicity. Incidence rates were higher among Asians (0.7 per 100,000) and blacks (1.4 per 100,000), than among non- Hispanic whites (0.3 per 100,000).

Two hundred thirty reports of newly identified cases of confirmed chronic HBV infection were received in 2016. A total of 23,525 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 45 years. In addition, the hepatitis registry was matched with Minnesota death records for the first time in 2016, and deceased persons were removed from the registry.

In addition to the 21 hepatitis B cases, 1 perinatal infection was identified in an infant who tested positive for HBsAg during post-vaccination screening performed between 9 and 15 months of age. The perinatal case was born in 2016. The infected infant was born in the United States and had received hepatitis B immune globulin and 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine in accordance with the recommended schedule and was therefore considered a treatment failure. Three hundred thirty-seven infants born to HBV-infected women during 2015 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

• For up to date information see>> Hepatitis B
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2016