The spread of HB virus infection in familial foci in a territory hyperendemic for hepatitis B

Epidemiological surveillance with the use of highly sensitive techniques for the indication of markers of hepatitis B (HB) virus infection in their dynamics has made it possible to find out that at a territory, hypersensitive for HB, along the existing high risk of this infection as the result of parenteral medical manipulations the intensive natural transmission of HB virus infection occurs under the conditions of everyday contacts with sources of the infection, patients with chronic forms of HB virus infection being of the highest epidemic importance. Under these conditions, children aged up to 7 years have been found to belong to the highest risk group. As a consequence, children of this age should be covered in future by specific preventive measures against HB. The spread of the epidemic process of HB virus infection in family foci is usually manifested by anicteric (usually not diagnosed) forms of this infection. All these circumstances make it expedient to develop antiepidemic and prophylactic measures in the foci of HB.