HEPATITIS B

Risk:

The risk of Hepatitis B virus infection is high for Central Africa. The risk to the individual international traveler is determined by the extent of: (1) direct contact with blood or other body fluids, etc.; (2) intimate sexual contact with an infected person; (3) the duration of travel.

Prevention:

The primary prevention consists of either vaccination and/or reducing intimate contact with those suspected of being infected. For those travelers expecting to reside in countries of high risk, as well as all health workers, vaccination is strongly recommended. Vaccination should ideally begin 6 months before travel, in order to complete the full series.