DEVELOPMENT OF MEASURES DIRECTED TO PREVENT THE APPEARANCE AND SPREAD OF VIRAL HEPATITIS E IN BELARUS

Abstract

Background. The incidence rates of hepatitis E in Belarus do not correspond to the prevalence of anamnestic antibodies in residents of the republic. Objective. To develop a set of preventive measures aimed at preventing the spread of the hepatitis E virus. Material and methods. 5745 blood sera samples were studied for the presence of anti-HEV IgG and IgM from healthy individuals (n=2784), foreign citizens (n=1457), blood donors (n=378), domestic pigs (n=1126). 130 blood sera samples were examined for the presence of HEV RNA. Results. The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG amounts to 7.3% (95 CI 5.8–9.0) in the general population, it is 11.2% (95% CI 9.6–12.9) in the group of patients with liver damage, 5.22% (95% CI 4.11–6.53) among foreign citizens, 33.75% (95% CI 30.44–37.32) among domestic pigs. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgM in the general population is 1.35% (95% CI 0.75–2.22), in ALT positive patients – 4.25% (95% CI 3.32–5.37), in foreign citizens – 1.03% (95% CI 0.58–1.7), in ALT positive donors – 2.89% (95% CI 1.25–5.69). Conclusions. There have been provided the epidemiological characteristics of HEV in Belarus. There has been developed a set of preventive measures.