Burden of Hepatitis B in Developing Countries
In most developing countries, there is no significant surveillance system that calculates the incidence of acute hepatitis B infection. Disease burden is conventionally determined by the prevalence of chronic infection. This is determined by estimating hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive carriers detected in limited studies among various population sub-groups. Most developing countries are believed to have an intermediate to high prevalence of hepatitis B infection. Almost all of Africa, half of South America, most of Asia and the northernmost parts of North America are classified as high-prevalence regions (greater than 8% HBsAg-positive population). Other areas in developing countries are classified as intermediate-prevalence areas (2–7% HBsAg-positive population). None of the developing countries seem to have a low prevalence (less than 2%). Hepatitis B vaccination was accorded top priority by healthcare agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), international donor-driven programmes and national professional bodies.^6,7

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