The first 541 Vietnamese boat refugees who arrived in the Netherlands were examined for markers of hepatitis B. Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBs-ag) was present in 16.6% of the group (19.4% in males and 13.5% in females). This difference was significant in the 0-19 year age-group (P<0.05). 45.8% of the refugees demonstrated antibody against the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). In about 30% of the group the markers HBs-ag, anti-HBs and antibody against the core-antigen (anti-HBc) were absent. Females were without these markers of a past infection more often than males (35 against 24%; P<0.001). In the age-group 20-29 years these markers were absent in one out of every eight men and in one out of every four women (P<0.01). 27% of the group was positive for HBs-ag and or anti-HBc, making them potentially infectious (male 32.9% and female 20.1%; P<0.001). Among the HBs-ag-positives the e-antigen could be demonstrated in 58%. Newborns in this group are considered to be candidates for vaccination with the hepatitis-B vaccin.

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Netherlands Vietnam Antibodies, Viral human epidemiology geographic distribution Hepatitis B virus Adolescent Infant, Newborn male female Infant Liver Child, Preschool diagnosis adult human experiment serology Age Factors Hepatitis B Surface Antigens hepatitis B Hepatitis B Core Antigens Hepatitis B Antibodies Child