Additionally, hepatitis surveillance in Matlab has been initiated in order to establish an HEV surveillance system. All women aged 16-39 are included in the surveillance, and requested to contact icddr,b staff if they experience jaundice of any duration, or other symptoms of hepatitis. Patients admitted to Matlab hospital have a blood sample taken for hepatitis diagnostics, and acute HEV cases are investigated virologically, clinically and immunologically. Household visits occur bi-weekly to document any possible hepatitis cases.