Viral hepatitis in Danish health care personnel, 1974-78.

The incidence of viral hepatitis in Denmark, as notified to the National Board of Health during 1974-78, was determined for health care personnel. Compared to the rate for the population as a whole, a fivefold increase was found for physicians and surgeons as well as for laboratory technicians. Dentists also had an increased rate of infection. No increase was apparent for the nursing staff in general, or for psychiatric hospitals or institutions for the mentally retarded. In hospitals, type B hepatitis was prevalent among doctors and technicians while 55% of the nursing staff did not have B hepatitis.