HBE1 and hepatitis B virus infection: The WHO defines hepatitis B infection in newborns as HBsAg positivity 6 months after birth.1 16 The risk of mother-to-child transmission is very high in the absence of prophylaxis, varying with the hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)/anti-HBe status of the mother: 70%–90% for HBeAg positive, 25% for HBeAg-negative/hepatitis B envelope antibody (HBeAb)-negative mothers and 12% for HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe-positive mothers.13 15 17