Preventing Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a term used to describe inflammation of the liver. Many types of hepatitis exist. However, in this article we’ll concentrate on Hepatitis B, which is the focus of the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s (NaTHNaC) recent updates of its country-specific information and vaccine recommendations.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that is spread through contact with contaminated blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers particularly at risk are those who engage in unprotected sex, get tattoos or piercings abroad, or share razors or needles. Others at risk are those who have pre-existing medical conditions; those who are going abroad for medical treatment, contact sports, or to adopt; and those visiting relatives, especially for a long stay. In fact, anyone traveling can experience a medical or dental emergency that might lead to contact with contaminated blood or equipment.
Although Hepatitis B does not cause long-lasting problems for most people, it can cause liver damage (cirrhosis) and increase the risk of liver cancer if left untreated. Luckily, there is a vaccine available that can be given to adults and children from birth. NaTHNaC’s advice for health professionals is that “Vaccination could be considered for all travellers and is recommended for those whose activities or medical history put them at increased risk.”1
Although Hepatitis B occurs in almost every part of the world, it is more common in some countries in Asia, Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.2 Travellers can access information on country-specific health risks on NaTHNaC’s website TravelHealthPro. In July of 2024, NaTHNaC in conjunction with UK Health Security Agency updated the country-specific hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Grenada, Hungary, Latvia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela3
Note that the countries listed here are not the only ones in which Hepatitis B is present or even prevalent. Be sure to check your destination on NaTHNaC’s Country Information Pages. If you think you’re at risk, make an appointment well in advance of your trip with a travel clinic to talk about vaccination. Emcare Travel Clinic can help you plan for and hopefully prevent getting Hepatitis B—and Hepatitis A, which is spread through contaminated food and water, as well as contact with an infected person. To get advice and obtain the Hepatitis B vaccine or a combination Hepatitis A and B vaccine, call us at 0141 404 0075, or email us at info@emcaretravelclinic.co.uk.
Sources
1 https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/785/changes-to-the-country-information-pages-hepatitis-b
3 https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/785/changes-to-the-country-information-pages-hepatitis-b
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/factsheet/50/hepatitis-b
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-b/
