The New York State Emerging Infections Program

Current Special Projects

Risk Factors for Acquiring Acute Hepatitis B or C Virus among Older Adults Healthcare Epidemiology Program

We are pleased to announce that the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), in conjunction with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH), have been awarded a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a two-year case control study, "Risk Factors for Acquiring Acute Hepatitis B or C Virus among Older Adults."

The purpose of the study is to determine whether healthcare-related exposures are an important source of infection for sporadic acute cases of hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), outside of recognized outbreaks. The study will include participants aged 50 years and older who reside in New York State. Cases of acute HBV and HCV will be identified through cases reported by Local Health Departments (LHD) via the Communicable Disease Electronic Surveillance System (CDESS). LHDs will not be expected to perform any additional activities, outside of routine surveillance and case investigation.

NYSDOH study staff will interview cases and controls with a questionnaire designed specifically for the study after the LHDs complete their routine investigation of the acute HBV or HCV case. Three controls will be randomly chosen for each case, matched by zip code and age group. The study protocol has been approved by the NYSDOH IRB, and enrollment of participants began in April 2006, with the goal of recruiting 20 cases outside of New York City and 20 cases within New York City over a two-year period.

Any questions related to this study can be directed to Suzanne Beck or Elena Rizzo at 518-473-4439.