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Hepatitis A among Danish travellers 1980-2007
Ulla Schierup Nielsen1, Carsten Schade Larsen, Michael Howitz
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. usa@sks.aaa.dk
The Journal of Infection
|December 9, 2008
Summary
Hepatitis A risk is low for Danish travelers, but high for immigrants visiting family abroad. Current immunization strategies are ineffective for this high-risk group, requiring targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Travel Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hepatitis A remains a significant concern for international travelers.
- Understanding risk factors and incidence trends is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology of Hepatitis A among Danish travelers from 1980-2007.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of current immunization strategies.
- To identify high-risk populations for Hepatitis A infection.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive study utilizing data from a large survey of Danish travel habits (n=26,640).
- Analysis of national surveillance and population data.
- Examination of Hepatitis A incidence trends and risk factors.
Main Results:
- Hepatitis A incidence is declining globally, but Danish travelers frequently visit endemic areas.
- Reported incidence rates may overestimate risk for average tourists due to inclusion of visitors to family.
- While 75% of Danish travelers are immune, 80% of incident cases (2002-2006) were immigrants or their children, indicating strategy ineffectiveness for this group.
Conclusions:
- The risk of Hepatitis A is low for ethnic Danish tourists but high for immigrants and their children visiting friends and relatives.
- Current immunization strategies are not effective for immigrant populations.
- Targeted public health focus and interventions are warranted for immigrant travelers to mitigate Hepatitis A risk.
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