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Hepatitis B on the decline

Physician Practice Advisor, January 7, 2004

Between 1999 and 2002, the number of cases of acute hepatitis B declined 67%, according to the January 2, 2004 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). As a group, children and adolescents saw the biggest decline, which the Centers for Disease Control attributes to routine vaccination in childhood.

According to the report, hepatitis B was most prevalent in the south and the northeast. In fact, incidents in the Northeast have increased 41% since 1999.

"No national adult hepatitis B program exists that is similar to those that have proven successful for children and adolescents," reads the MMWR report. "Components of a national adult vaccination program must include policies for vaccination, including methods for achieving higher vaccination rates among adults at greatest risk and appropriate resources to support implementation." Go to the MMWR report for more information.

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