Hepatitis B virus

Agent Name
Hepatitis B virus
Major Category
Biological Agents
Category
Infectious Agents
Comments
Chronic hepatitis B infection rates vary from highly endemic (>8% HBsAg prevalence) to intermediate (2% to 7%) to low. "Where endemicity is low (HBsAg prevalence <2%), most infections occur in young adults, especially through sexual contact and injection drug use." Patients with chronic infection have increased risk for cirrhosis and liver cancer. [CCDM, p. 258-9
Biomedical References

Adverse Effects

IARC Carcinogen
Established

Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent: