Hepatitis B
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

• 2023 was a low year for acute hepatitis B infections in Minnesota, with 8 acute cases identified. Over the last 10 years, there have been between 7-23 cases of acute hepatitis B per year.
• In 2023, there were no perinatal hepatitis B infections identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive persons.
• A total of 28,704 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic hepatitis B infection.

In 2023, 8 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.1 per 100,000 population) were reported. The median age was 43 years (range 21 to 68). Six cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Five cases were male. Race was known for all eight cases: Three (37.5%) were White, one (12.5%) was Asian, three (37.5%) were Black, and one (12.5%) was reported as Other race. One (12.5%) case was known to be of Hispanic ethnicity.

MDH received 195 reports of newly identified confirmed chronic hepatitis B and 691 reports of newly identified probable chronic hepatitis B in 2023. A total of 28,704 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 50 years.

In 2023, there were no perinatal hepatitis B infections identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive persons. Two hundred and eight-six infants born to hepatitis B-positive persons during 2022 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

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In 2022, 15 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.3 per 100,000 population) were reported. The median age was 51 years (range 24 to 84). Eleven cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Nine cases were male. Race was known for 14 cases: eight (57.1%) were White, three (21.4%) was Asian, and three (21.4%) were Black. Two (13.3%) cases were known to be of Hispanic ethnicity.

MDH received 180 reports of newly identified confirmed chronic hepatitis B and 602 reports of newly identified probable chronic hepatitis B in 2022. A total of 28,202 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 49 years.

In 2022, two perinatal hepatitis B infections were identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Both cases were Asian, non-Hispanic. Two hundred and eight-five infants born to hepatitis B-positive women during 2021 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

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In 2021, 10 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.2 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Five of the 10 cases were asymptomatic, laboratory-confirmed infections.

The median age was 43 years (range 21 to 72). Six cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Six cases were male. Race was known for 9 cases: four (44%) were White, one (11%) was Asian, two (22%) were Black, one (11%) was reported as multi-racial, and one (11%) was reported as other race. One (10%) case was known to be of Hispanic ethnicity.

MDH received 190 reports of newly identified chronic hepatitis B infections in 2021. A total of 27,464 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 48 years.

In 2021, no perinatal hepatitis B infections were identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Three hundred and six infants born to hepatitis B-positive women during 2020 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection

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In 2020, 7 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.1 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Two of the 7 cases were asymptomatic, laboratory-confirmed infections.

The median age was 46 years (range 19 to 62). Four cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Five cases were male. Race was known for 6 cases: 3 were white, 1 was Asian, 1 was American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 1 was black. No cases were of Hispanic ethnicity.

MDH received 187 reports of newly identified chronic hepatitis B infections in 2020. A total of 26,770 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 47 years.

In 2020, no perinatal hepatitis B infections were identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Three hundred forty-nine infants born to hepatitis B-positive women during 2019 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

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In 2019, 16 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.3 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Three of the 16 cases were asymptomatic, laboratory-confirmed infections.

The median age was 56 years (range 21 to 76). Twelve (75%) cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Twelve (75%) cases were male. Race was known for 13 cases; 9 (56%) were white and 4 (25%) were black. No cases were of Hispanic ethnicity.

Two hundred seventy-two reports of newly identified cases of confirmed chronic HBV infection were received in 2019. A total of 26,160 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 47 years.

In 2019, no perinatal hepatitis B infections were identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Three hundred fifty-two infants born to hepatitis B-positive women during 2018 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

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In 2018, 16 cases of acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (0.3 per 100,000 population) were reported. In 2012, the case definition for acute hepatitis B was revised to include laboratory confirmed asymptomatic acute cases. Five of the 16 cases were asymptomatic, laboratoryconfirmed infections.

The median age of cases was 45 years (range 17 to 67). Eighteen (78%) cases were residents of the metropolitan area, including 7 (30%) in Hennepin County, and 8 (35%) in Ramsey County. Sixteen (70%) cases were male, and 11 (48%) were between 13-39 years of age. Race was known for 21 cases; of those, 11 were white, 5 were black, and 5 were Asian/Pacific Islander. No cases were of Hispanic ethnicity. Incidence rates were higher among Asians (0.2 per 100,000) and blacks (1.6 per 100,000), than among non-Hispanic whites (0.2 per 100,000).The median age of cases was 46 years (range 22 to 69). Eleven (69%) cases were residents of the metropolitan area. Twelve (75%) cases were male. Race was known for all 16 cases; 7 were white, 4 were black, 3 were Asian/ Pacific Islander, 1 was American Indian/Alaskan Native, and 1 was multiracial. No cases were of Hispanic ethnicity.

Two hundred forty-two reports of newly identified cases of confirmed chronic HBV infection were received in 2018. A total of 25,335 persons are estimated to be alive and living in Minnesota with chronic HBV infection. The median age of chronic HBV cases in Minnesota is 46 years.

In 2018, there were no perinatal hepatitis B infections identified in infants born to hepatitis B-positive mothers. Three hundred seventy-eight infants born to hepatitis B-positive women during 2017 had post-serologic testing demonstrating no infection.

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• Archive of Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health
  Archive of past summaries (years prior to 2023 are available as PDFs).