Hepatitis B infections in expatriate doctors in Papua New Guinea

The frequency of hepatitis B infection in European doctors and non-medical expatriates working in Papua New Guinea has been investigated. There was a higher rate of clinical hepatitis in doctors as compared with non-medical personnel and serological evidence suggested that most of the infections were hepatitis B. Subclinical infections with hepatitis B in doctors were also common, and the frequency of hepatitis B antibody increased with length of stay in Papua New Guinea. The implications of these findings are discussed.