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HEPATITIS A IN LEBANON: A CHANGING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PATTERN

In this multicenter study in Lebanon, hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence rates were surveyed by age, gender, and socioeconomic factors. Blood samples collected from 606 subjects aged 1 to 30 years were analyzed for anti-HAV IgG. Age was the most important factor influencing HAV seroprevalence. HAV seroprevalence rates in the current study were about 78% in the 21 years age group, 28% in the 6–10 years age group, and 11% in the 1–5 years age group as compared with 97.7% in adults, 85% in children aged 6–12 years, and 40% in children aged 1 to 5 years in previous studies, demonstrating a shift in HAV seroprevalence from the younger to the higher age groups. In light of the severity of the disease in adults and availability of safe and effective vaccines against HAV infection, introduction of HAV vaccination into the national immunization schedule of Lebanon should be considered.

Received August 3, 2004. Accepted for publication March 2, 2005.

Acknowledgments: The study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals. The authors thank Dr. Hussein Makki and Drs. Carlo Akatcherian and Raymond Michael for their significant contributions in recruiting subjects at Hammoud Hospital, Saida, and Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Beirut, respectively; and Mr. Vincent Mazraanin for his assistance in conducting all the necessary laboratory procedures at Nini Hospital, Tripoli, North Lebanon.

^* Address correspondence to Remon Abu-Elyazeed, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, 150 Beach Road, #22-00 Gateway West, Singapore 189720. E-mail: remon.abu-elyazeed{at}gsk.com

Authors’ addresses: Robert G. Sacy, St. Georges Hospital, Achrafieh, Lebanon, Telephone: + 961 1 585700, Fax: + 961 1 582560, E-mail: rsacy{at}lb.refer.org. Mirna Haddad, Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Achrafieh, Lebanon, Telephone: + 961 1 615300 ext. 8725/8735/8730, Fax: + 961 6 448442, E-mail: germanos{at}inco.com.lb. Ghassan Baasiri, Hammoud Hospital, Saida, Lebanon, Telephone: + 961 7 723111, Fax: + 961 7 725833. Adlette Khoriati, Nini Hospital, Maarad Street, Tripoli, Lebanon, Telephone: + 961 6 628434, Fax: + 961 6 448442, E-mail: khorina{at}dm.net.lb. Bernard J. Gerbaka, Hotel-Dieu Hospital, Achrafieh, Lebanon, Telephone: + 961 1 615400, Fax: + 961 1 611636, + 961 9 933277, E-mail: pedhdf{at}usj.edu.lb. Remon Abu-Elyazeed, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, 150 Beach Road, #22-00 Gateway West, Singapore 189720, E-mail: remon.abu-elyazeed{at}gsk.com.

Reprint requests: Dr. Remon Abu-Elyazeed, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, 150 Beach Road, #22-00 Gateway West, Singapore 189720, E-mail: remon.abu-elyazeed{at}gsk.com.