Worldwide prevalence of HAV infection

Costs of Hepatitis A
Although most infected persons recover completely and a significant proportion remain asymptomatic, HAV infection causes considerable morbidity and mortality and imposes a large economic burden throughout the world.
Both medical treatment and work loss account in the United States for an estimated annual US$500 million (1997) costs for 63,500 cases of acute Hepatitis A.
The economic burden cause by viral hepatitis in china is about 30-50 billion RMB annually.
Worldwide, an estimated 1.4 million cases of acute Hepatitis A annually cost US$1.5 to US$3 billion.
The prevalence of virus hepatitis is not only a pubic healthy problem, but also a social burden. ”The powerful control of virus hepatitis could not be waiting any longer”.

Strategy for the control of Hepatitis A
WHO recommends using inactivated Hepatitis A vaccine to prevent Hepatitis A.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended routine vaccination for children and adolescents over 2 years old in states, counties, and communities with high rates of Hepatitis A infection (>20 cases per 100,000) and high-risk groups.
The United States has listed Hepatitis A vaccine into National Plan of Immunization program.
Chinese government has put the control & treatment of virus hepatitis into the critical diseases control program of the “national 10^th five years plan”.

The most effective way of control Hepatitis A is the prevention with inactivated HA vaccine.