Hepatitis B among Asian Americans: Prevalence, progress, and prospects for control

Table 1 Chronic hepatitis B prevalence rate of foreign-born with chronic hepatitis B living in the United States for selected Asian Countries[6]

Country	Chronic hepatitis B prevalence rate (%)
Laos (home to the Hmong)	13.61
Vietnam	12.48
China	12.25
Cambodia	10.27
Philippines	7.36
Thailand (home to the Hmong)	5.97
South Korea	5.26

Table 2 Recommendations to mitigate the hepatitis B virus burden among Asian Americans

CDC’s recommendations	Evidence-based strategies
1.Screen persons born in areas with ≥ 2% hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) rates[10]	a.Ask persons which country they were born
	b.Encourage providers to recommend HBsAg testing for their at-risk Asian American patients
	c.Educate and encourage patients to ask their providers whether they should be tested for HBsAg[44]
	d.Use typical Asian names from EHRs to determine if they have been tested for HBsAg and then to screen them at the next opportunity[46]
	e.Collaborate with Asian American-serving organizations to hold screening events[36]
2.Vaccinate Asian American infants and children[30]	a.Verify that hospitals and birthing facilities are providing birth dose vaccinations
	b.If not vaccinated at birth, vaccinate. Note that in many states, verification of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccinations may be a requisite for school enrollment
3.Vaccinate Asian American adults. Note: serologically test for HBsAg first and after test results are known, determine if vaccination is appropriate[31]	a.Consider follow up vaccination programs for adults after serological testing for HBV for those who need vaccination[36]