Changes in incidence of hepatitis B in Ireland from 1970-1987.

Routine tests for hepatitis B became available in Ireland in 1970. This paper analysed data on 2,226 cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection detected during the years 1970 to 1987. Data from this study showed that the mean annual incidence of hepatitis B had quadrupled since 1980, compared with the 10 years before 1980. Although some of this increase was attributed to greater awareness, resulting in more testing, most of it was attributed to the 15-fold increase in hepatitis B infections in an expanded population of intravenous drug abusers