We studied the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis
C virus (HCV) and GB
virus-C (GBV-C) infections in 348 Siberian natives who lived in the Kamchatka
Peninsula of
Russia. Of 348 samples studied, the seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs
were 11·8% (41 of
348 samples) and 35·9% (125 of 348 samples), respectively. The prevalence
of HCV infection
was 1·4% (5 of 348 samples), and that of GBV-C RNA, using RT–PCR
methods, was 7·5%
(26 of 348 samples). In Siberia, the prevalences of HBV and GBV-C infections
were about
tenfold higher than those in Japan. The prevalence of HBsAg in subjects
under 50 years of age
was significantly higher than that in those over 50 years old (P<0·05).
Because HBV infection
is highly endemic in Siberia, we propose that the community-based mass
immunization must be
conducted as soon as possible in this area.