Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus in Nigeria: Review Update

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus is among the common viral infectious agents of public health concern. An estimated two billion people are infected worldwide with approximately 350 million others suffering the chronic form of the disease. Nigeria, a tropical country, has been documented as highly endemic for HBV infection and about 75% of its population is likely to have been exposed to the virus at one time or the other in their lives. Currently about 18 million Nigerians are infected. A prevalence rate of 4.3 % to 23.3% have been reported from different part of the country This paper presented up-date prevalence of hepatitis B virus from different part of Nigeria. The structure, mode of transmission, replication, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and possible treatment of the disease were also mentioned.