Viral Hepatitis B, 2019

n 2019, 16 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.3 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Three of the 16 cases were asymptomatic, laboratory-confirmed infections.

The median age was 56 years (range 21 to 76). Twelve (75%) cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Twelve (75%) cases were male. Race was known for 13 cases; 9 (56%) were white and 4 (25%) were black. No cases were of Hispanic ethnicity.

Two hundred seventy-two reports of newly identified cases of confirmed chronic HBV infection were received in 2019. A total of 26,160 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 47 years.

In 2019, no perinatal hepatitis B infections were identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Three hundred fifty-two infants born to hepatitis B-positive women during 2018 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

• Find up to date information at>> Hepatitis B
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2019