Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B (HBV) is a DNA virus; it was previously called serum hepatitis. It is transmitted through blood or blood products. It can also be transmitted by semen or vaginal fluid and is the only sexually transmitted disease preventable by vaccine. It is more contagious than HCV and 100 times more infectious than HIV. A larger percentage of Canadians get this infection through tattoos than through intraveneous drug usage. A preventative vaccine consisting of three gamma globulin injections is available.
Many people can have HBV and not know it. HBV only becomes chronic in approximately 5% of victims. Approximately 100,000 Canadians suffer with chronic HBV. Current treatment consists of Interferon injections three times a week for four months. A new drug, Lamivudine, is currently being tested. Currently liver transplants are not an effective treatment.
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