Occurrence of an Outbreak of Acute Hepatitis E Infection in Baquba City

Abstract

Abstract:Objective: Document the occurrence of an outbreak of hepatitis E infection in Baquba city, the center of Diyala province.Patients & Methods: During Jun 2002, 44 patients presented with signs of acute viral hepatitis were referred from the outpatient clinic of Baquba general hospital to the public health laboratory for viral investigations. They were 25 males with mean age 15.3 ±7.8 years and 19 females with mean age 15.4 ± 10.2 years. Viral markers including, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibody, anti-hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV IgM) antibody and anti-hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV IgM) antibody were performed using immunoenzymatic assays. Additionally, some demographic information including age, sex and residence were recorded.Results:Viral marker investigations revealed that 18 (40.9%) patients were positive for anti-HEV IgM, with mean age 20.3 ±8.3 years. Two (4.5%) of anti-HEV positive patients were also positive for anti-HAV IgM, and 1(2.27%) patient was positive for both anti-HEV IgM and anti-HCV antibody. Eleven (25%) of patients were positive for anti-HAV IgM, with mean age 5.6 ± 4.9 years. The HBsAg was detected in 2(4.5%) of patients. The remaining 12 (27.3%) patients were negative for all viral markers. All anti-HEV IgM positive patients were from Al-Mufraq and Al-Muialemen squares in Baquba city.Conclusion: Serologically confirmed outbreak of acute hepatitis E virus infection occurred in Baquba city, the center of Diyala province.Key words: Acute viral hepatitis, Hepatitis E virus infection, Diyala.