Hepatitis D

Statutory notification

• Hepatitis D is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Hepatitis D virus.
• Transmission: Hepatitis D is usually passed on through direct contact with infected blood and blood products. Sexual transmission may also occur.
• Incubation period: Approximately 2 to 8 weeks.
• Infectious period: From weeks before to months after onset. Long-term carriers may be infectious for life.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: As recommended by the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA.
• Immunisation: Vaccination against hepatitis B prevents hepatitis D infection. Recommended that children be vaccinated for hepatitis B according to the Western Australian immunisation schedule. Hepatitis B vaccination also recommended for household contacts of people with chronic hepatitis B, occupational and other high-risk groups according to the Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA.
• Case follow-up: Is the responsibility of health care providers.

Guidelines

• Guidelines for Managing Sexually Transmitted Infections - WA
• WA STI/HIV Control Supplement for endemic regions
• Western Australian immunisation schedule
• Australian Immunisation Handbook, Department of Health – Hepatitis B (external site)
• OD 0394/12 Policy for Health Care Workers known to be Infected with Blood-borne Viruses (external site)
• OD 0641/15 Management of Occupational Exposures to Blood or Body Fluids in the Healthcare Setting (external site)
• OD 0237/09 Hepatitis B Vaccination Program (external site)
• OD 0392/12 Guidelines for the Provision of Hepatitis A and B Vaccine to Adults in Western Australia at Risk of Acquiring These Infections by Sexual Transmission and Injecting Drug Use (external site)
• OD 0553/14 Provision of Sterile Needles and Syringes from Rural and Regional Hospitals to People Who Inject Drugs (external site)
• OD 0554/14 The Operation and Maintenance of Needle and Syringe Vending Machines (NSVMS) (external site)
• Skin Penetration Code of Practice (PDF 324KB)
• Communicable Disease Guidelines for teachers, childcare workers, local government authorities and medical practitioners

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports