1. National policy on Hepatitis B at the Workplace
Press conference
17 November 2009

2. Hepatitis B
What is it?
Hep B is a serious disease caused by a virus that infects the liver
Can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver cancer, liver failure and death

3. Geographical distribution
HBsAg Prevalence
³8% - High
2-7% - Intermediate
<2% - Low 36

4. Hepatitis B Incubation period
60-90 days on average (range days)
infectious weeks before getting ill and for variable period after acute infection
chronic carriers remain infectious

5. Hepatitis B Symptoms Nausea Loss of appetite Vomiting Fatigue Fever
Dark urine
Pale stool
Jaundice
Stomach pain
Side pain
A person may have all, some or none of these

6. Hepatitis B Infections
Asymptomatic Cases 50%
Symptomatic Cases 50%
Clear Virus; Healthy 90-94%
Death 0.05%
Hepatitis B Chronic Carriers 6-10%
Chronic Liver Disease
Death from Cirrhosis 1.7%
Death-Primary Liver Cancer 0.4%

7. Hepatitis B transmission
How do you get it?
Direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person
sharing injection equipment
sex
baby from infected mother during childbirth
Hepatitis B is not spread by food, water or casual contact

8. Hepatitis B carriers Who is a carrier of Hep B virus?
Some people with Hep B never fully recover from the infection (chronic infection)
They still carry the virus and can infect others for the rest of their lives

9. Hepatitis B prevention
Hepatitis B vaccine:
Safe
Effective: >90% of recipient become immune
Recommended for workers with jobs where exposure to blood might happen
Mandatory for

10. Hepatitis B policy

11. Employer responsibilities
Ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees who may be exposed to blood or body fluids
Risk assessment
Vaccination
Protective equipment
Medical care for exposure incidents

12. Employee responsibilities
Ethical & legal obligations to safeguard their health and that of their clients
If they have any reasons to believe they may have been exposed to infection with a blood-borne virus including HBV, should promptly seek & comply with confidential professional advice

13. Hepatitis B policy: risk categories
High
Significant risk of acquiring HB from others
Potential to spread HB if a carrier
Intermediate
Low
Potential risk of acquiring HB from others
Negligible

14. Hepatitis B policy: action requirements
High
Must receive HB vaccine and do immunity test
If immunity test negative, tested for HB virus
If found to be a carrier, cannot perform exposure prone procedures
Intermediate
Low
Encouraged to receive HB vaccine and do immunity test
Negligible
HB vaccine after risk assessment