Risk Regions

HBV infection is found worldwide and in all seasons of the year. High rates of infection are found in North and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian peninsula, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia and other Pacific islands, among native populations in the Arctic, in parts of South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and the Amazon region of Brazil) and in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Low to moderate rates of infection are found in Mexico and Central America, most of the Caribbean, and most industrialized countries. In all areas, HBV infection rates are higher in high-risk groups