author(s)
Hiro M Obaid and Braihan H Hameed

abstract
Viral hepatitis is a common serious human disease, infecting liver. Hepatitis A, B and C viruses are most responsible for human infection. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of viral hepatitis in Kirkuk city and identify the role of the vaccination process. In order to do that, two methods (cassette and ELISA) were used to detect the hepatitis. The overall prevalence of the hepatitis was 8.6%. Of the 802 screened individuals, 217 of them were vaccinated and hepatitis appeared among the vaccinators with a rate of 5.1%. The most predominant viral type in the investigation, was HCV with a rate of 5.1%, followed by HBV and HAV each with a rate of 3.3, 0.25% respectively. Thalassemic patients had a higher incidence of hepatitis (18%), compared to other groups of the study, followed by patient's complaint form hepatic disorders. The conclusion is that; viral hepatitis type C is more prevalent among Kirkuk population than type B and A. People vaccinated against the disease may appear to be infected with the virus. Thalassemia patients are more at risk to have hepatitis infections. Therefore the recommendation is that; more advanced tests are better used to test blood before receiving it, especially in thalassemia patients. Kirkuk residences are better to pay more attention to the vaccination process for more protection against hepatitis, especially those non-vaccinated or who have not received booster doses, more serious attempts need to make effective vaccine against type C virus.