1. Environmental risk factors for hepatitis A infection in the Zenica–Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Author
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Uzunovic-Kamberovic, S., Durmisevic, S., and Tandir, S.
- Subjects
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HEPATITIS A , *VIRAL hepatitis , *VIRUS diseases , *HEPATITIS A virus , *HEALTH education - Abstract
In the Zenica–Doboj Canton, 1106 hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections were reported during 2000 (an incidence rate of 252/100 000 population), with 996 (90.1%) cases occurring in nine community-wide outbreaks. Analysis of water supplies showed that 398 (19.1%) samples contained coliforms, including 202 (50.8%) that were contaminated with thermotolerantEscherichia coli.Sewage sanitation systems were absent or substandard in 53 910 (81.8%) rural households. The group most affected during outbreaks comprised children aged 7–14 years (incidence rate of 598/100 000). The development of health promotion and prevention initiatives in schools, combined with rigorous hygiene measures, will be necessary to achieve control of the spread of HAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
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