Objective. To study the epidemic process of hepatitis E in Belarus and to develop anti-epidemic recommendations aimed at preventing this infection.

Materials and methods. 1126 blood serum samples of domestic pigs from 90 farms in 4 regions (Minsk, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno) of Belarus were examined.

Results. Antibodies (IgG) to hepatitis E virus (HEV) were detected in the blood serum by ELISA. The average domestic pigs’ seroprevalence against anti-HEV IgG in the studied regions was 33.7 per 100 samples. The rate of the pig farms where animals containing HEV antibodies were detected, including agricultural enterprises and private farmsteads in different regions of the Republic, ranged from 59.1% to 68.4%.

Conclusion. The results obtained testify to the HEV rather wide spread on the Belarus territory and determine the domestic pigs’ significant role as a source of hepatitis E pathogen for humans. The necessity of making changes and additions to the sanitary norms and rules governing the viral hepatitis prevention is justified. Proposals for the preventing hepatitis E have been made.