Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and identify the factors of exposure to the hepatitis E virus (HEV) outside of the periods of sudden spread and massive contagion of HEV among refugees in eastern Chad. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, observational study with descriptive and analytical aims, conducted continuously over a twelve-month period (January 2024 to December 31, 2025) to recruit Sudanese refugees and Chadian returnees presenting with jaundice at refugee camp health centers. The study was conducted in 25-day sequences for three consecutive months. Group 1 consisted of people without any signs suggestive of HEV, Group 2 included people with jaundice. Plasma from the collected whole blood samples was diagnosed using the immunochromatographic test (D-HEVD20 Rapid Labs) in district hospital laboratories in each city surveyed, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Results: A total of 3571 subjects were included in this study, divided into Group 1 (n = 2303) and Group 2 (n = 1268). Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was identified in 657 cases, representing a prevalence of 18.4% for HEV, and 105 (2.94%) volunteers tested positive for IgG. The average age of the participants was 38.5 years for Group 1 versus 45.5 years for Group 2. Males were predominant (p = 0.01), with an overall sex ratio of 2.32 (2.40 for Group 1 versus 2.18 for Group 2). All ages were affected, ranging from 2 to 89 years. The most affected age group was 2 - 11 years (38.38%), followed by 12 - 21 years (27.22%). Antibodies (LgM, IgG) were detected much more frequently in participants in Group 2 than in Group 1 (p = 0.001). There was a higher participation rate of Sudanese refugees than Chadian refugees in the study (p = 0.001). Conclusion: This survey determined the prevalence of HEV among refugees in eastern Chad. Reducing this disease will require promoting education on good hygiene practices for individuals, communities, and food in confined spaces.
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