Hepatitis E

Statutory notification

• Hepatitis E infection 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 E virus (HEV).
• Transmission: Faecal-oral, water-borne, food-borne.
• Incubation period: 15 to 64 days (usually 26 to 42 days).
• Infectious period: Period of communicability is not known. HEV has been detected in stools 14 days after the onset of jaundice.
• Case exclusion: Exclude for at least one week after onset of jaundice or two weeks after onset of symptoms (if not jaundiced). Extra exclusion may apply for high risk groups.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude. Contact management will be coordinated by Public Health staff.
• Treatment: Varies according to symptoms – refer to doctor.
• Immunisation: none available.
• Case follow-up: Is conducted by local public health units (Healthy WA).

Guidelines

• Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts
• OD 0490/14 Public Health Intervention for Sporadic Enteric Notifications (PDF 1MB)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports