As the number of acute viral hepatitis A cases reported in Taiwan continues to increase, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control urges at-risk individuals, including restaurant workers, healthcare workers, caretakers of infants and children, people with chronic liver disease, hemophilia, or those who have had liver transplants, people who practice unsafe sex, people who inject drugs, and those planning to visit areas affected by hepatitis A, who do not have hepatitis A antibodies are urged to receive 2 doses of self-paid hepatitis A vaccine in order to lower the risk of infection.

To prevent further transmission of the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak, Taiwan CDC implemented the one-year “Free Hepatitis A Vaccination Pilot Program for Contacts of Confirmed Cases” on March 11, 2016. “Contacts” mean family members or people residing in the same household and sexual partners that were born in and prior to 1971 who do not have hepatitis A antibodies or those that were born in and after 1972 and are aged above 12 months can receive one government-funded dose of hepatitis A vaccine under the arrangement of the local health authority to lower the risk of developing the disease. Six months to a year later, the same individuals can receive the second dose at their own expense in order to ensure long-term protection against the virus.

In response to the increasing number of HIV and hepatitis A co-infection, Taiwan CDC plans to expand the target population for the free hepatitis A vaccination pilot program. Individuals who are recently diagnosed with HIV infection, syphilis, or gonorrhea and were born in and after 1977 will be offered one government-funded dose of hepatitis A vaccine and requested to receive the second dose at their own expense. If deemed necessary by the physician, a third dose might be required in order to ensure long-term immunity.

According to the surveillance data collected by Taiwan CDC, thus far this year, as of May 15, 2016, a total of 275 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in Taiwan, reaching a record high in years. Their ages range between 18 and 39 (225 cases). The majority of the cases reside in cities and counties north of Taichung, including 33.8% in New Taipei City, 28% in Taipei City, 12.3% in Taichung City, and 9.1% in Taoyuan City. Further investigation found that 50% of the 275 cases are also infected with HIV.

Taiwan CDC reminds the public that hepatitis A vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent hepatitis A. The 2-dose HepA vaccine series spaced 6 to 12 months lasts for over 20 years. Protection against hepatitis A is achieved in over 95% of the individuals after receiving the first dose. At-risk individuals and contacts of such individuals should be proactive about hepatitis A vaccinations. The public is urged to take prevention measures, including paying attention to food hygiene, avoiding the consumption of raw and undercooked food, especially raw bivalves such as oyster and clams, and unboiled water, washing hands properly with soap and water before and after handling food, having meals and using the bathroom, avoiding having multiple sex partners, and avoiding unsafe sex practices, in order to ward off infection. If symptoms develop, please seek immediate medical attention. Additionally, outbreaks of hepatitis A infection among intravenous drug users have been previously reported in other countries. Therefore, drug users are urged not to share needles to prevent infection. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).