Viral hepatitis A in French Polynesia (1995-1996): lessons from an epidemic.

During the years 1995 and 1996 there was an epidemic of viral hepatitis A ( VHA) in French Polynesia. In these islands where 220,000 inhabitants live, 2,072 VHA cases were reported (about 1% of the population). The young were the most affected: 84% of the patients were under 20 years old, and 160 hos pitalized patients were under 16 years old. Among them, four cases of fulmi nant hepatitis were observed; two of them died. The possible role of parace tamol as an aggravation factor in the acute forms must be evoked. Different factors concurred to the emergence of this epidemic: contamination of the drinking water system, abundant rains, increasing susceptibility in the you ngest children, bad practice of the elementary public health rules in the c hildren collectivities (hand washing). The setting up of a vaccination prog ram against VHA in French overseas departments and territories (DOM-TOM) wh ich are at an intermediate endemic level would be pertinent. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Paris.