EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HEPATITIS-B IN SWITZERLAND

Between 1988 and 1996, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health recei ved 200 to 500 reports of acute hepatitis B each year; mostly affectin g ing adults ag ed 15 to 40 (80% of all reports), Considering the prob lem of underreporting and the fact that most infections are asymptomat ic or remain undiagnosed because of typical symptoms, the yearly incid ence of new infections is estimated to be between 2000 and 3000, About 20000 persons are chronically infected (0,3 % of the population) and acute and chronic complications of hepatitis B (fulminant hepatitis, c irrhosis, hepatocarcinoma) lead to an estimated 40 to 80 deaths each y ear.