Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by CRUSBERG, T. C.
Right arrow Articles by HOFFMAN, A. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by CRUSBERG, T. C.
Right arrow Articles by HOFFMAN, A. H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 107, No. 6: 545-551
Copyright © 1978 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health

other

THE REAPPEARANCE OF A CLASSICAL EPIDEMIC OF INFECTIOUS HEPATITIS IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

THEODORE C. CRUSBERG1, WILLIAM M. BURKE2, JOHN T. REYNOLDS3, LEONARD E. MORSE4, JOHN REILLY5 and ALLEN H. HOFFMAN6

1 Life Sciences Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA 01609
2 Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Massachusetts School of Medicine Worcester, MA 01605
3 Division of Microbiology, Biology Department, Clark University Worcester, MA 01610
4 Director of Laboratories, Department of Public Health Worcester, MA 01605
5 Assistant Director of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health Worcester
6 Mechanical Engineering Department, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester, MA, experienced an outbreak of hepatitis during 1969–1970, an expected event which had occurred previously at eight-year intervals since reporting of the disease began In 1950. Other Massachusetts communities of similar character and the nation did not experience an epidemic during that same period. An extensive epidemiologic study of the disease illustrated that the epidemic followed the classical pattern in which Individuals 5–14 years old were most affected Irrespective of sex. During the interepidemlc years from 1968–1972 in Worcester, and in all years (1968–1972) In both New Bedford, and Springfield, MA, those primarily affected were young adults 1530 years old, with male cases predominating. Soclodemographic statistical analyses also Indicated the classical pattern of the less affluent, less educated, and sometimes the more crowded populations being at greater risk of contracting the disease. This outbreak of hepatitis was comparable to another In Greenland two years later in which Immunologic methods differentiated between type A and type B viral infections. The data from both studies support the conclusion that the type B virus, often associated with parenteral drug use, is the predominate Infectious agent during the Interepidemic (endemic) periods. The type A virus is most likely responsible for the periodic epidemics.

hepatitis; outbreaks; socioeconomic factors


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.