1.
Arch Pediatr
; 14(9): 1132-6, 2007 Sep.
Article
in French
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17566719
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for a worldwide mortality of 1 million people each year. It constitutes a major public health problem, especially in highly endemic zones, where it concerns the youngest children, primarily by a mother to child transmission, with a strong risk of chronic hepatitis infection and hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunisation of children versus HBV is known to be efficient and safe. In Mayotte, a French overseas territory in Indian Ocean, immunisation versus HBV has been introduced since 1993 in the vaccine schedule, starting at day 1 of life. We report hereby the local experience and practice on HBV infection, state of vaccine coverage, and difficulties met with this major public health issue.