An epidemic of non-A, non-B hepatitis in Japan.

An epidemic of viral hepatitis was studied in the Okitsu area of Shimizu city in Japan from April 1980 to November 1981. One hundred thirty-six serum samples from patients with viral hepatitis were tested for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis A virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus infection. Immunoserological data showed the outbreak of viral hepatitis to be non-A, non-B hepatitis. Epidemiological investigations revealed that the mode of the outbreak was from person to person by close contact and the incubation period was from about 2 to 5 months.