Enterically Transmitted Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis Associated with an Outbreak in Dhaka: Epidemiology and Public Health Implications

Abstract

Investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis in Dhaka implicated enterically transmitted non-A, non-B (ET-NANB) hepatitis as the etiologic agent. This observation was made by exclusion in 17 of 19 patients, and confirmed serologically in one randomly selected patient by a fluorescent antibody blocking assay specific for ET-NANB hepatitis. These findings reinforce earlier suspicions that ET-NANB may be an important cause of acute hepatitis in Bangladesh. The epidemiology of ET-NANB hepatitis is discussed, and public health recommendations are made.