Acute viral hepatitis in Papua New Guinea: results of hepatitis B antigen and antibody studies.

Using sensitive haemagglutination techniques, both a group of non-medical Papua New Guinean and European patients with acute viral hepatitis were investigated for Hepatitis B antigen and antibody. The results are compared with similar studies in a control population. Although total exposure rates (obtained by combining antigen and antibody techniques) were similar in the European patient and control groups, there was a 10% increase in Hepatitis B antigen rate in the Papua New Guineans with clinical hepatitis as compared with the control group. It is concluded that viral Hepatitis B is proportion of the hepatitis occurring in Papua New Guineans is Type B. Normal pooled immunoglobulin should be of use in the management of focal or more widespread outbreaks of acute viral hepatitis in Papua New Guinea.