|
Unspecified Hepatitis in
Washington State
New requirements for the reporting of unspecified,
infectious hepatitis were instituted in December of 2000. In
the first year of reporting, DOH received 0 reports.
Hepatitis D (delta) virus and hepatitis E virus infections
should be reported to DOH as unspecified infectious hepatitis.
An outbreak of hepatitis B
among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Pierce County in April
2000 included 60 cases and resulted in three deaths among IDUs
co-infected with hepatitis delta virus.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- To better characterize the epidemiology of infectious
hepatitis not due to hepatitis A, B, or C.
- To recommend appropriate preventive measures, including
immunization against other types of hepatitis which are
vaccine-preventable.
Reporting Requirements
- Health care providers: immediately notifiable to
Local Health Jurisdiction
- Hospitals: immediately notifiable to Local Health
Jurisdiction
- Laboratories: no requirements for reporting
- Local health jurisdictions: notifiable to DOH
Communicable Disease Epidemiology within 7 days of case
investigation completion or summary information required
within 21 days
Last
update
Oct. 2002 |
|
