Hepatitis E Epidemic, Uganda

Abstract

In October 2007, an epidemic of hepatitis E was suspected in Kitgum District of northern Uganda where no previous epidemics had been documented. This outbreak has progressed to become one of the largest hepatitis E outbreaks in the world. By June 2009, the epidemic had caused illness in >10,196 persons and 160 deaths.

Hepatitis E: Epidemiology and Natural History

“…32,33 In these outbreaks too, limited availability of facilities for safe drinking water and proper disposal of human feces, for instance in refugee camps, have been the main factors responsible for spread of HEV infection.…”

Hepatitis E vaccine development

“…The manufacturer is expected to work with non-government organizations to make the vaccine available to people in need worldwide. For high-risk populations such as pregnant women, 3 chronic liver disease patients, 4 and children of less than 2 y old, 5 more clinical trials are needed to test the benefit and safety of this HE vaccine.…”

Is Hepatitis E a Vaccine Preventable Diseases?

“…HEV genotypes 1 and 2 are the most common causes of waterborne infections that mainly occur in resource-limited countries (3). The other pattern of transmission is from animals and humans (zoonotic transmission), caused by HEV genotype 3 or 4 and occurs widely in both resource-limited and developed countries (3).…”

“…The other pattern of transmission is from animals and humans (zoonotic transmission), caused by HEV genotype 3 or 4 and occurs widely in both resource-limited and developed countries (3). HEV infection can occur either in large epidemics in endemic regions and some parts of the Middle East or in sporadic forms in developed or developing countries (3,4). HEV infection is a self-limited and clinical illness, similar to other forms of viral hepatitis except in pregnant women in whom the illness is particularly severe with a mortality rate of up to 25% (3,4).…”

“…HEV infection can occur either in large epidemics in endemic regions and some parts of the Middle East or in sporadic forms in developed or developing countries (3,4). HEV infection is a self-limited and clinical illness, similar to other forms of viral hepatitis except in pregnant women in whom the illness is particularly severe with a mortality rate of up to 25% (3,4). Recently, Zhang et al reported the long-term efficacy of hepatitis E vaccine as 86.8%, which is new and hopefully promising (5).…”