Study to Determine the Proportion of Travelers Over the Age of 60 Years and Travelers Having Lived in a Tropical Country for More Than 5 Years With Anti-HAV Antibodies

Introduction:

Hepatitis A is an infection which is found internationally but mainly in areas where hygiene standards aren't high, as it is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. It is found mainly in Asia, Africa and South America. In these areas, it is mainly children who are infected. The seroprevalence rate reaches close to 100% at 5 years of age in some of these areas. To prevent transmission, following the hygiene recommendations and getting vaccinated are important.

In Switzerland, an average of 60 cases are recorded yearly. These cases are mainly brought in from travelers in countries where hepatitis A is prevalent. Despite this, the prevalence of hepatitis A in Switzerland has diminished over the years. A 1990 study done in Switzerland that measured seroprevalence in different age groups, concluded that it was useful to do a pre-immunisation test in travelers born before 1944 (age 46, now age 75, about a 50% seroprevalence rate), had a history of jaundice or had a prolonged stay (>1 year) in the tropics, subtropics or in Southern Europe. The FOPH (Federal office of public health) has therefore adjusted the vaccination plan to aligne with this conclusion.

Despite the FOPH recommendations, the Expert Committee of Travel Medicine in Switzerland has agreed upon that people who have lived in tropical countries (outside of Europe or North America) for more than 5 years and people who are older than 65 years of age have already developed an immunity against hepatitis A, either through a symptomatic or asymptomatic infection in their infancy. Therefore, they are not vaccinated and their serology isn't tested. The validity of this claim is questionable. Firstly, the level of hygiene has improved in many countries including Switzerland since 1990 when the latest study was done. Secondly, the seroprevalence rate has decreased from 1975 to 2014 in the European Economic Area and European Union. Conversely, the proportion of susceptible people has increased. Thirdly, there is very little circulation of the virus in Switzerland and that has been the case since at least 1988 so there is less of a likelihood that people have gotten infected with the virus. Lastly, In Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and the middle East the level of endemicity has decreased over the years due to improved hygienic conditions. Consequently, people that have lived in these countries for 5 years may not have been infected by the virus.

The primary objective is to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HAV in those two groups. The two groups will be analysed separately. If the seroprevalence is >90%, then no vaccination or serology test should be taken. If it is between 50% and 90%, then a serology test should be done first before potentially vaccinating. If it is below 50% then the traveler should be vaccinated.