Epidemiology and iatrogenic transmission of hepatitis c. Hepatitis c virus hcv infection is the most challenging public health problem in egypt where the prevalence is the highest in the world and its history. To estimate hepatitis c virus hcv incidence rates and identify risk factors for current hcv transmission with emphasis on the role of living with infected household family members in rural egypt. The world health organisation who recognises hcv as a global challenge that necessitates an urgent response. Yet despite these efforts, the virus is still spreading, with some 165 000 new infections each year. Map of egypt, indicating regions from which specimens were obtained. Egypt has the highest world prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv infection, which is associated with substantial disease and economic burden. Mar 11, 2000 the population of egypt has a heavy burden of liver disease, mostly due to chronic infection with hepatitis c virus hcv. Egypts mass campaigns of pat may represent the worlds largest iatrogenic transmission of. Globally, according to the world health organization who, there is a variation in hepatitisc virus hcv epidemiology. Full text detection of hepatitis c virus hcv among. The hepatitis c virus is an enveloped, single stranded rna virus with a diameter of about 50 nm.
Seroprevalence survey of egyptian tourism workers for hepatitis b virus, hepatitis c virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and treponema pallidum infections. The virus persists in the liver in about 75% to 85% of those initially infected. The hepatitis a virus hav is primarily transmitted from person to person via the fecaloral route and through contaminated water and food such as shellfish and uncooked vegetables or fruit. By 2008, one in 10 egyptians had chronic hepatitis c. Clinical characteristics of hcv in egyptian patients ecronicon. When someone is first infected with the hepatitis c virus, they can have a very mild illness with few or no symptoms or a serious condition requiring hospitalization. Egypt has one of the highest global burdens of hepatitis.
Hcv represents a specific threat to public health in egypt. This intensive transmission established a large reservoir of chronic hcv infection, responsible for the high prevalence of hcv infection and current high rates of transmission. An egyptian pioneering hepatitis c virus test a group of researchers known as national diagnostics therapeutics ndt led. Jan 26, 2018 egypt is the most affected nation by hepatitis c virus hcv and needs a comprehensive characterization of hcv epidemiology to inform the scaleup of treatment and prevention programs. Globally, the most common infections are with hcv genotypes 1. Hepatitis c is a chronic, often dormant infection, with most individuals living asymptomatically for decades before developing complications. Pdf the epidemiology of hepatitis c virus in egypt. Hepatitis c virus constitutes an epidemic in egypt having the highest prevalence in the world of 14. The hepatitis c virus hcv is a major cause of hepatitis acute and chronic and cirrhosis the world over. Worldwide, 170 million persons are living with chronic hepatitis c virus hcv infection 1, which, if left untreated, can result in cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early on chronic infection typically has no symptoms.
Egypt has the highest world prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv infection, which is associated with substantial disease and economic burden 1, 2, 3. In 2016, roughly 40,000 egyptians died of the disease, and nearly 4. Below each region label, each symbol represents a serum specimen from that region and hepatitis c virus subtype assigned by both restriction fragment length polymorphism rflp and phylogenetic analysis squares or rflp. Jul 28, 2014 hepatitis is today recognised by people at all levels in egypt as a major challenge, dr bekedam notes. Characterizing hepatitis c virus epidemiology in egypt. Viral hepatitis has been estimated as the 7th leading cause of mortality globally. The hepatitis a virus hav is primarily transmitted from person to person via the fecaloral route and through contaminated water and food such as shellfish and uncooked vegetables or fruit prepared by infected food handlers. In this article we use a newly developed bayesian inference framework to estimate the transmission dynamics of hcv in egypt from sampled viral gene sequences, and to predict the public health impact of the virus. To control the spread of hcv, the egyptian ministry of h ealth initiated awareness and education campaigns, strengthened.
Lots of studies worldwide have been carried out to check out the prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv in human populations. Hepatitis c virus hcv infection is a major global health challenge. Hepatitis c virus antibodies and other markers of bloodtransfusiontransmitted infection in multitransfused cuban patients. Egypt could eliminate hepatitis c among its population by. Public health hepatitis c virus awareness programs are not working. May 29, 2018 hepatitis c virus, not yet known but transmitted efficiently by blood, was inadvertently spread to many citizens. The reasons behind this unique epidemic may be dated back to iatrogenic role of parenteral antischistosom al therapy campaigns to control endemic schistosomiasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of oci in egyptian patients with lymphoproliferative disorders lpds and to.
Ahmed rady stressed on saturday that egypt has become the worlds target in the treatment of the hepatitis c virus hcv after great efforts in providing free treatment for patients, pointing out that 1. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of oci in egyptian patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. Despite the largescale epidemic, prevalence appears to be declining rapidly consistent with a contracting epidemic. These complications, unfortunately, are becoming increasingly common as egypt s infected population ages. Genetic epidemiology of hepatitis c virus throughout egypt. Pdf epidemiology of hepatitis c virus infection in egypt. Egypt has the largest burden of hcv infection in the world, with a 10% prevalence of chronic hcv infection among.
The disease can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. For reasons that are not known, less than half of people who get hepatitis c. Effect of preventive and curative interventions on. Spatial data analysis and clustering detection is a vital process in hcv monitoring to discover the area of high risk and to. Hepatitis c virus genotype 4 hcv4 is the most common variant of the hepatitis c virus hcv 90% of infections due to genotype 4 in the middle east and africa, particularly egypt 18. Hepatitis c virus infection in egypt journal of high institute of. Progress toward prevention and control of hepatitis c virus. The role of parenteral antischistosomal therapy in the.
Pdf hepatitis c virus constitutes an epidemic in egypt having the highest prevalence in the world of 14. Pdf hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future. Pdf egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world, estimated nationally at 14. Below each region label, each symbol represents a serum specimen from that region and hepatitis c virus subtype assigned by both restriction fragment length polymorphism rflp and phylogenetic analysis squares or rflp only circles. Our studys objective was to delineate the evidence on the epidemiology of hcv infection among the different population groups in egypt, and to draw analytical inferences about the nature of hcv transmission in this country. Effect of preventive and curative interventions on hepatitis.
Aburaddad, evidence of intense ongoing endemic transmission of hepatitis c virus in egypt, proceedings of the national academy of sciences 107, 33 2010. Hcv and hbv can both be transmitted through medical and surgical procedures healthcareassociated transmission among others. The role of parenteral antischistosomal therapy in the spread of hepatitis c virus in egypt. The direct health impacts of hepatitis c in egypt are immense. Overall prevalence of antibody to hcv in the general population is around 1520%. Dec 20, 2016 elsayed n, gomatos p, rodier g, et al. The data suggest that pat had a major role in the spread of hcv throughout egypt. Sep 27, 2018 egypt has one of the highest prevalence rates of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world, mostly with genotype 4 that is highly associated with severe fibrosis. Hepatitis c virus hcv infection is a major public health burden in egypt, where it bears the highest prevalence rate in the world. Progress toward prevention and control of hepatitis c. Hepatitis c virus genotype 4infection and interferonfree. An egyptian pioneering test for hepatitis c virus a step forward to fight an endemic egyptian disease and a long lived egyptian dilemma.
Prevalence of occult hepatitis c virus in egyptian. The reasons behind this unique epidemic may be dated back to iatrogenic role of parenteral. Other routes of infection are contributing to the ongoing hcv transmission. Healthcareassociated transmission is a major contributor to hcv transmission in egypt. The role of parenteral antischistosomal therapy in the spread. It is widely accepted that the implementation of mass population antischistosomal treatment involving administration of tartar emetic injections from 1950s to 1980s led to widespread infection. Occult hepatitis c virus infection oci was identified as a new form of hepatitis c virus hcv, characterized by undetectable hcv antibodies and hcv rna in serum, while hcv rna is detectable in liver and peripheral blood cells only. Hepatitis c is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis c virus hcv that primarily affects the liver. Why egypt is at the forefront of hepatitis c treatment the. Occasionally a fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and yellow tinged skin occurs. Pdf is the hepatitis c virus epidemic over in egypt. Hepatitis c is a global health problem, and an estimated 711 million individuals are chronically infected with hepatitis c virus hcv.
Egypt has the highest prevalence rate of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world, making it the most challenging public health problem facing the country. It is well documented that egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv infection in the world. Fighting hepatitis c in egypt middle east institute. The reasons behind this unique epidemic may be dated back to iatrogenic role of parenteral antischistosomal therapy campaigns to control endemic schistosomiasis. Prevalence of occult hepatitis c virus in egyptian patients. Hepatitis c virus, not yet known but transmitted efficiently by blood, was inadvertently spread to many citizens. Globally, the most common infections are with hcv genotypes 1 44% of.
There are 26 specialized centres and 350 000 people have been treated in the past 6 years. Hepatitis c is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis c virus. Full text hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future. Hepatitis c virus hcv infection has become a global health challenge and in 2017, the world health organization assessed. Further steps to elimination of hepatitis c in egypt. Impact of treatment on hepatitis c virus transmission and. Apr 22, 2019 the hepatitis c virus is an enveloped, single stranded rna virus with a diameter of about 50 nm. Mohammed yahia, the burden of egypt s hepatitis c epidemic, nature middle east, 17 august 2010. Mauritania is a highly endemic area for hepatitis b virus hbv. Hcv epidemiology egypt has the highest prevalence rate of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world, making it the most challenging public health problem facing the country. What is less well known, however, is that these schemes were implemented by the egyptian ministry of. Epidemiology and iatrogenic transmission of hepatitis c virus. This is because these awareness programs are directed at the general public when instead awareness should be directed to all health care providers. Epidemiology of hepatitis c virus infection in egypt.
Hepatitis is today recognised by people at all levels in egypt as a major challenge, dr bekedam notes. Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world. Hepatitis c virus hcv is a leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis, and egypt has possibly the highest hcv prevalence worldwide. What is less well known, however, is that these schemes were implemented by the. Hcv gt4a, gt4 m, gt4n, and gt4o showed rates of 76, 5, 7 and 12%, and il28b gts cc, ct and tt of 19, 54 and 27%, respectively. Egypt is currently considered to be at the forefront of hepatitis c virus hcv treatment, with egyptian health officials estimating that the country could eliminate the disease from its national population by 2023 if it scales up its current program, according to a recent article in the atlantic an estimated 1 in 10 egyptians is chronically infected with the virus. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Hepatitis c viral infection is endemic in egypt with the highest prevalence rate in the world. It belongs to the genus hepacivirus within the flaviviridae family. Egypt has the largest burden of hepatitis c infection in the world, with a 10% prevalence of chronic hepatitis c virus hcv infection among persons aged 1559 years. Background most hepatitis c virus hcv transmission in egypt is related to medical injections and procedures.
Egypt is the country with the highest hcv prevalence in. Challenge of hepatitis c in egypt and hepatitis b in. Hepatitis c virus hcv is a global health threat, with egypt having the highest prevalence worldwide. Changing prevention from people to providers hepatitis c virus awareness programs in egypt. These complications, unfortunately, are becoming increasingly common as egypts infected population ages. Mohammed yahia, the burden of egypts hepatitis c epidemic, nature middle east, 17 august 2010.
Egypt is making historic headway against hepatitis c, one of its most insidious killers. Hepatitis c virus hcv and hepatitis b virus hbv are major public health concerns in egypt and mauritania. Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world, estimated nationally at 14. According to the centers for disease control and prevention, 21% of all acute viral hepatitis in the united states may be attributed to hepatitis c viral infection. Hepatitisc virus infection and exposure to blood and body.
Full text detection of hepatitis c virus hcv among health. Egypt is the most affected nation by hepatitis c virus hcv and needs a comprehensive characterization of hcv epidemiology to inform the scaleup of treatment and prevention programs. The prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection in egypt. Screening, prevention, and treatment strategies should be emphasized in egypt and mauritania to prevent the spread. In 2015, a national egyptian health issue survey was conducted to describe the prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv infection. The prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv infection in egypt is the highest in the world,1, 2 yet the total cost and burden of chronic hcv infection on the egyptian economy, including healthcare sector costs direct costs, the value of lost productivity among chronically infected individuals indirect costs, and the burden of disability. Mass screening for hepatitis b and c in southern upper egypt. Why egypt is at the forefront of hepatitis c treatment. The prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection in egypt 2015. Challenge of hepatitis c in egypt and hepatitis b in mauritania. Progress toward prevention and control of hepatitis c virus infection egypt, 20012012.
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