Prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus antibodies in French blood donors

Accumulating evidence suggests that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging disease in regions where HEV is nonendemic. In France, the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in the general population has never been studied. Using blood donors' samples, we have found a prevalence of 3.20%, which is similar to that of other industrialized countries.