Intra familial spread of asymptomatic hepatitis B in Alexandria.

A total of 107 family members were examined for HBsAg 86 members were in families with a persistent carrier index and 21 of them were in families free from a carrier index. Rate of HBsAg transmission was 100% in families with a carrier index and absent in those free from a carrier. Horizontal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection reached about 80% in the total sample examined. All babies born to a carrier mothers became positive at one year of age stressing the importance of screening of the mother in the planning for vaccination programmes for the prevention of hepatitis B infection in newly-born.