Hepatitis B

Statutory notification

Public health management

Important information

  • Infectious agent: Hepatitis B virus.
  • Transmission: Hepatitis B is usually passed on through direct contact with infected blood and blood products, or other bodily fluids including semen and vaginal fluids. An infected mother can pass hepatitis B on to her baby during childbirth.
  • Incubation period: Usually 45 to 180 days, with an average of 60 to 90 days.
  • Infectious period: From weeks before to months after onset. Long-term carriers may be infectious for life.
  • Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
  • Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
  • Treatment: Antiviral treatment for people with chronic hepatitis B as recommended by the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA.
  • Immunisation: Recommended that children be vaccinated according to the Western Australian vaccination schedule. Also recommended for household contacts of people with chronic hepatitis B, occupational and other high-risk groups according to the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA. Immunisation can be used for post-exposure prophylaxis according to OD 0641/15 Management of Occupational Exposures to Blood or Body Fluids in the Healthcare Setting (external site).
  • Case follow-up: Is the responsibility of health care providers.

Guidelines

Notifiable disease data and reports

Produced by

Public Health