Trends in the incidence of hepatitis A in Texas, 1986 through 1997.

Hepatitis A is one of the most common infections reported in Texas. This study examined the trends in incidence of hepatitis A in Texas for the years from 1986 through 1997. Demographic and clinical data of reported cases were obtained from the Texas Department of Health. Population estimates were obtained from Epigram. Rates were calculated per 100,000 population. For the 1986-1997 period, 33,833 cases of acute hepatitis A were reported. Rates varied considerably by ethnicity and race: Hispanics had the highest average annual rate (32.2 per 100,000), followed by non-Hispanic whites (8.2 per 100,000) and African Americans (6.0 per 100,000). The rate for Hispanics was more than two times higher than the rates for non-Hispanic whites and African Americans in all 11 public health regions in Texas. Children aged 5 through 9 years had the highest rates of hepatitis A. The 3-month period from August through October had the largest reported number of onsets of hepatitis A (P < .01).

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus in drinking water workers and wastewater workers in Texas from 1996 to 1997.

To determine if wastewater workers had a higher prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) than drinking water workers, a convenience sample of Texas wastewater and drinking water workers was evaluated for risk factors by questionnaire and tested for anti-HAV. A total of 359 wastewater and 89 drinking water workers participated. Anti-HAV positivity was 28.4% for wastewater and 23.6% for drinking water workers. After adjustment for age, educational attainment, and Hispanic ethnicity, the odds ratio for the association between anti-HAV positivity and wastewater industry employment was 2.0 (95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 3.8). Among wastewater workers, never eating in a lunchroom, > or = 8 years in the wastewater industry, never wearing face protection, and skin contact with sewage at least once per day were all significantly associated with anti-HAV positivity in a model that adjusted for age and educational attainment. Wastewater workers in this study had a higher prevalence of anti-HAV than drinking water workers, which suggested that wastewater workers may have been at increased risk of occupationally acquired hepatitis A. Work practices that expose workers to wastewater may increase their risk.