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Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe the incidence of hepatitis A in Denmark with the emphasis on the role of immigrants in relation to transmission and prevention of the disease., Method: A retrospective study of notified cases of hepatitis A during the period, 1.1.1996-31.12.1999., Results: A total of 398 notified cases were examined, 45% of which occurred in immigrants. The average incidence per year was 13.2 per 100,000 for immigrants and 1.1 per 100,000 for Danes. The incidence for immigrants from Pakistan and Turkey was 4-5 times that for immigrants as a whole. The median age in immigrants was eight years and in Danes 29 years. Immigrants were hospitalised in 35% of the cases. Of children below ten years of age 31% were admitted. Danes were hospitalised in 43% of the cases, and of children below ten years of age 44% were admitted. Infection was acquired abroad for 71% of immigrants, 49% of whom visited Pakistan or Turkey. Of those infected in Denmark, person-to-person transmission was the most common mode of infection for both groups. Immigrants who had been travelling to endemic areas were involved in 21 of 34 outbreaks., Conclusion: The incidence of hepatitis A in Denmark seems to relate highly to the children of immigrants, who come from high endemic areas. Vaccination of those above one year of age is recommended when travelling abroad if anticipated. Economic compensation could be considered.

A review is presented of the results of epidemiological investigations from 1980 to 1988 concerning the use of alcohol and narcotics among adolescents in Denmark. The material includes ten anonymous questionnaire investigations in all of which school pupils participated and a qualitative interview investigation. Comparison of the age-specific prevalence rates reveals that the use of alcohol and narcotics increases with age and that the intake of alcohol is slightly higher in boys than in girls. The majority of the adolescents drink mainly at weekends and in connection with social events. The use of hash is greatest among boys and the average age for commencing is slightly higher than for alcohol. Apart from hash, the employment of narcotics is low in school pupils. Although approximately 24,000 adolescents were questioned, the investigations together provide an uncertain picture of the habits as these are not representative for Danish adolescents. It is not possible to indicate genuine risk groups. It is concluded that initiatives for prophylactic efforts do not have any basis for action. Repeated national representative questionnaire investigations are proposed supplemented by qualitative interviews with particularly selected adolescents and local key-persons.

Four months after introducing routine vaccination against measles, mumps and German measles (MMR-vaccination) in Denmark, a questionnaire study of reactions in vaccinated children was carried out. There were significantly fewer reactions in children who had previously developed immunity to measles, either by having had the disease or by vaccination. The reaction frequency after MMR-vaccination of children immune to measles was no greater than that after other vaccinations. Moreover, for all vaccinations, the frequency of reaction was found to decrease significantly with increasing age. The study suggests that a large proportion of the so-called reactions were not caused by vaccination, but were due to common viral infections occurring at random and concurrently with it. The reactions that arose in connection with MMR-vaccination are considered to be of minor importance when compared with often prolonged and more severe course of these diseases.

Investigations from abroad and from Denmark show that epidemics of influenza are not only accompanied by considerable morbidity but also by considerable excess mortality and a sizable increase in the number of admissions to hospital. The increases in the number of deaths comprise 170-320 per million of the population per epidemic. The excess mortality occurs primarily among individuals with chronic pulmonary and circulatory disease and may be very great in nursing homes and similar institutions. Influenza vaccination will, in general, provide protection of approximately 70% and does not cause noteworthy side effects. Amantadine and rimantadine chemoprophylaxis, which is employed in some countries, provides protection of 80-90% from Influenza A. Recommendations are established for influenza vaccination and a series of situations are quoted where it would be advisable to supplement or replace vaccination with chemoprophylaxis. It is important to attempt to improve the vaccination rates, eg. by means of informative activity, improved planning of the vaccination programmes and public support to vaccination of high-risk groups.