Hepatitis B Virus Infection on Taiwan

Abstract

To the Editor: The correspondence by Yokoyama et al. (N Engl J Med 296:282, 1977) is interesting in showing that the distribution of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the Yonaguni Island of Okinawa is similar to that in Southeast Asia but does not seem to contribute much to the liver diseases on the Island. Since Taiwan is the nearest large island south of Okinawa, our studies may contribute to a further understanding of the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.A seroepidemiologic survey for HBsAg and anti-HBs was held in 1976 in Taipei. A total of 1236 . . .