Story maps
故事地圖

Each year, 28th July is observed as the World Hepatitis Day. “Elimination” is the theme of the campaign for 2016. There are 5 common hepatitis viruses, named as Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the 2 viruses transmitted through faecal-oral routes, the other being the more widely known hepatitis A virus. HEV is commonly spread by contaminated water. The prevalence of hepatitis E is especially high in rural areas of East and South Asia countries where water contamination is frequently seen. The other source of infection is contaminated animal meat, including pork and pig liver.

The map shows the seropositive rate of HEV antibody among healthy people in the recent 10+ years in countries of Asia. The positive rate varies from 0.4% (Australia) to 25.7% (Hong Kong), reflecting the degree of past exposure to the virus. Comparison is however cautioned as the methodology of the studies were not the same. A study in Hong Kong showed that male and older age are two factors significantly associated with a higher seropositive rate in the population.

Data for this map was excerpted from systematic reviews in 2010 and 2014 of the World Health Organization.

每年七月二十八日是『世界肝炎日』。二零一六年的活動主題為「消除」。現時影響人類的病毒性肝炎主要有A至E五種，在中文世界又以甲乙丙丁戊命名。當中的甲和戊型肝炎是經糞口途徑傳播，而一般人對甲型肝炎比較熟悉。戊型肝炎是由戊型肝炎病毒引起的病毒性肝炎，該病毒與甲型肝炎病毒全無關連。戊型肝炎病毒主要經污染食水傳播。在亞洲，戊型肝炎盛行於農村及食水容易受污染的一些東南亞地區。另外，受污染的肉類，特別是豬肉及其肝臟，都有傳播戊型肝炎病毒危機。

地圖顯示亞洲地區過去十多年健康人士血液呈陽性戊型肝炎病毒抗體的比率，感染率介乎0.4%(澳洲)至25.7%(香港) 。雖然數據反映各地區人口曾受戊型肝炎病毒感染的嚴重性，但由於檢測方法不一，難作直接比較。香港有一研究顯示，在健康人士當中，男性及年老人士呈陽性反應的較多。

資料源自世界衛生組織於2010年及2014年出版之系統綜述。