Hepatitis E

Statutory notification

• Hepatitis E is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• Case definition: See Hepatitis E (external site) national surveillance case definition.
• Notification: Notify using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 214KB) or regional residents (PDF 213KB). For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health summary

• Infectious agent: Hepatitis E virus.
• 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. Hepatitis E Virus 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 local public health staff.
• Treatment: Varies according to symptoms – refer to doctor.
• Immunisation: none available.
• Case follow-up: Conducted by local public health units. Locally-acquired cases are referred to the Communicable Disease Control Directorate (OzFoodNet) for further investigation.

Guidelines for public health units

• Guidelines for Exclusion of People with Enteric Diseases and their Contacts
• Guidelines for the Public health management of notifiable enteric diseases (PDF 387KB)

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports