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Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B
Statutory notification
Hepatitis B is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
See
notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB)
.
Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for
metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB)
or
regional residents (PDF 208KB)
.
For notification of regional residents see contact details of
public health units
.
See also description of
statutory medical notifications in Western Australia
.
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
Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA
Western Australian vaccination schedule
Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Hepatitis B (external site)
OD 0394/12 Policy for Health Care Workers known to be Infected with Blood-borne Viruses
OD 0641/15 Management of Occupational Exposures to Blood or Body Fluids in the Healthcare Setting (external site
.
OD 0553/14 Provision of Sterile Needles and Syringes from Rural and Regional Hospitals to People Who Inject Drugs
OD 0554/14 The Operation and Maintenance of Needle and Syringe Vending Machines (NSVMS)
Skin Penetration Code of Practice (PDF 324KB)
Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, childcare workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners
Guidelines for the Provision of Hepatitis A and B Vaccine to Adults in Western Australia at Risk of Acquiring these Infections by Sexual Transmission (PDF 1MB)
WA Health Guidelines for Accessing State Funded Vaccines and Immunoglobulin Blood Products for Public Health Disease Control Activities (Word 1MB)
Notifiable disease data and reports
Up-to-date hepatitis B notification data
General infectious disease reports
Produced by
Public Health
Related links
Hepatitis B (Healthy WA)