The Prevalence of Antibody to Hepatitis A Virus in Singapore

Sera collected from 1,630 healthy children and adults aged between six months and 55 years during the period 1984 to 1985 were tested for hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin G antibody by enzyme immunoassay. The overall antibody prevalence rate was 31.8%. It increased from 0% in children under five years old to 15.5% in adolescents and young adults (15 to 24 years) and reached the highest level of 88.2% in adults over 55 years of age. No statistically significant differences in the overall prevalence by sex and ethnic group were observed. None of the 938 samples tested for HAV immunoglobin M antibody was positive. Compared with the data in 1975, the survey showed that the level of exposure of Singapore children to HAV was declining as the result of vast socio-economic progress made during the past decade.