ANTIBODIES AGAINST HEPATITIS VIRUSES IN MERCHANT SEAMEN

Seamen constitute a special group of international travellers who may run an increased risk of contracting hepatitis, because of visits to f oreign ports and the particular environment on board ship. The purpose of the survey was to assess the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis A, B and C virus infection among seamen and to identify pre sent and previous risk factors for infection. 515 seamen were studied. The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A was 0.3% in subjects below 40 years of age, increasing with age above 40 years, and highes t among those who had sailed in international trade. The prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis B was 2.7% in subjects below 40 years of age, increasing to 35.7% in the group above 60 years of age. Hepatiti s C antibodies occurred in 1.2%. Vaccination of sailors against hepati tis A should follow the same recommendations as to other travellers. T he prevalence of hepatitis B was higher than in reference groups of no n-seamen but, because hepatitis B is only one of many blood-borne dise ases, prevention should be directed towards changes in behaviour rathe r than vaccination, except for special groups. Young seamen in interna tional trade mere found to be most at risk of contracting sexually tra nsmitted diseases.