August 2001
From Canadian Medical Association Journal
Vancouver at high risk for hepatitis A outbreak In Vancouver recurrent outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) among injection drug users and men who have sex with men (MSM) have contributed to a HAV rate up to 3 times the national average. In measuring the frequency of past HAV infection in a sample of 494 Vancouver street youth, injection drug users (IDUs) and MSM, anti-HAV antibodies were found in 6.3% of street youth, 42.6% of IDUs and 14.7% of people who denied injection drug use. The authors warn that due to the relatively low rate of anti-HAV antibodies in street youth, and their exposure to other risk factors for HAV infection (injection drug use, involvement in the sex trade, among others) �it would seem that an outbreak of hepatitis A is just waiting to happen.�Past infection with hepatitis A virus among Vancouver street youth, injection drug users and men who have sex with men: implications for vaccination programs -� J.J. Ochnio, et al | |
