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in an experiment conducted to determine the incidence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among the
inhabitants of fourteen communities in Esan-West Local Government Area of Edo State Nigeria, blood samples
were collected intravenously from a total of three hundred and ninety-eight (398) asymptomatic volunteers aged
0 - 70 years between June, 2012 and May, 2013. The respondents were tested for antibody to HBV (anti-HBV)
using HBV test strips (Global product, DRG International Inc., USA). Of the 398 respondents, 151 (37.9 %)
were males and 247 (62.1 %) were females. Overall, 29 (7.2 %) tested positive Hepatitis B virus, of whom 9
(5.9 %) were males and 20 (8.1 %) females. Subjects in age groups 21–30 years had the highest infection rate of
62.8% while the females were more infected with the virus than the males giving 37.%. Ihunmudumu had the
highest number of infected persons (27.6%), while Ujemen, Emuhi, and Ukhun had the least number of persons
infected with hepatitis B virus (3.5% respectively). General surveillance, mass immunization and public health
education to stop the spread of the infection are hereby advocated.
Keywords: Incidence, Hepatitis B Virus, Antibody, Vaccines, Asymptomatic Volunteers.