Surveillance and response of hepatitis B virus in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, 1988–2014

The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region with an estimated 160 million chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers in 2007 bears a significant burden of HBV-related mortality and morbidity. (1) Most Member States in the region have an estimated chronic HBV infection proportion of more than 8% in their adult population, which is the highest worldwide. (2) The WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific published the first Regional Plan for Hepatitis B Control (1) in January 2003.This plan is updated periodically with a consistent ultimate goal of achieving a chronic HBV infection rate of less than 1% in the region