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Hepatitis A in Switzerland : an analysis of 29 years of surveillance data and contemporary challenges

Schmutz, Claudia and Mäusezahl, Daniel and Jost, Marianne. (2019) Hepatitis A in Switzerland : an analysis of 29 years of surveillance data and contemporary challenges. Travel medicine and infectious disease, 27. pp. 53-63.

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Abstract

Hepatitis A (HA) incidence declined in most European countries in the past decades. We analysed HA notification data for Switzerland of 29 years looking for disease- and notification system-related factors possibly contributing to observed trends.; Notification data were descriptively analysed using five time intervals (1988-1993, 1994-1999, 2000-2005, 2006-2011, 2012-2016); and notification rates were calculated.; From 1988 to 2016, the HA notification rate decreased from 9.5 to 0.5 per 100'000 population in Switzerland. Median age and the proportion of hospitalised cases increased over time. In the 1988-1993-time period, intravenous drug use was the most frequently mentioned risk exposure while consumption of contaminated food/beverages was most frequently mentioned in the 2012-2016-time period.; Notification data does not allow reliably identifying current risk groups (e.g. travellers) due to low case numbers, limited availability and reliability of information. It is important to document changes in the surveillance system for later analyses and interpretation of long-term trends. Population susceptibility likely increases underlining the importance of continued and continuous surveillance and prevention efforts despite decreasing case numbers. Operational research is recommended to further investigate observed trends of HA and to enhance the abilities for decision making from Swiss HA surveillance data.
Faculties and Departments:09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)
09 Associated Institutions > Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) > Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) > Household Economics and Health Systems Research > Household Health Systems (Mäusezahl)
UniBasel Contributors:Schmutz, Claudia and Mäusezahl, Daniel
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1477-8939
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Identification Number:
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:05 Mar 2019 15:39
Deposited On:05 Mar 2019 15:39

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