Egypt is the country with the highest hcv prevalence in the world. 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. Some people recover on their own, while others develop a lifethreatening infection or further complications, including cirrhosis or cancer. Hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future ncbi. Ascertaining the specific hepatitis c genotype helps determine treatment recommendations options for patients. Gbd 20 mortality and causes of death collaborators. The recent introduction of direct acting antivirals daas for treating hepatitis c virus hcv can significantly assist in the world reaching the international target of elimination by 2030. But the national hepatitis plan for 20 2018, drawn up by the national viral hepatitis committee, the ministry of health and supported by health partners, places a strong emphasis on prevention. The direct health impacts of hepatitis c in egypt are immense. In 2010, it was estimated that 786 000 deaths worldwide were attributable to hepatitis b and 455 000 to hepatitis c, making hepatitis b the 15th ranked and hepatitis c the 22nd ranked cause of death worldwide 2, 3. The prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection in egypt 2015. Hepatitis c australian government department of health. The centre for communicable diseases and infection control, public health agency of canada the agency, is pleased to present the report on hepatitis b and c in canada. However, since 2012, the rate has increased by 12% from 44.
Pdf hepatitis c viral infection is endemic in egypt with the highest prevalence rate in the world. Egypt is a rare example of a country with high hepatitis c prevalence and commitment to treatment. Genotypes a genotype is a complete set of genes that makeup a cell, organism, or individual. An estimated 170 million people worldwide have hepatitis c virus hcv infection. 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. Global, regional, and national agesex specific allcause and causespecific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990 20.
Jake lippincott, eipr issues statement calling for increased access to hepatitis c drugs, daily news egypt, 3 march 2014. Price, profits, and barriers to access the world health organization has dubbed hepatitis c a viral time bomb, and estimates that there are as many as 185 million people, or 3% of the worlds population, currently living with the hepatitis c virus hcv. These complications, unfortunately, are becoming increasingly common as egypts infected population ages. Hcv infection frequently persists and may cause cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis c general information centers for disease. Hepatitis c hcv can cause both acute and chronic infection. Treatment of hcv in egypt has become one of the top national priorities since 2007. However, egypt has established a successful national treatment programme towards the goal of hcv elimination. The 2015 ehis is part of the dhs program which is funded by the united states agency for international. Why egypt is at the forefront of hepatitis c treatment. Hepatitis c is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis c virus hcv. Year number tested number positive percent 2011 5683 12 0. In the united states and most developed nations, where the prevalence of infection is l%2% 5, 6, hcv is the leading cause of chronic liver disease.
The prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv infection in egypt is the highest in the. Diagnosis, management and prevention of hepatitis c. Hepatitis c virus infection in egypt journal of high institute of. A case study on hepatitis c in egypt, unpublished thesis, law department, american university in cairo, december 20, available at. Genetic epidemiology of hepatitis c virus throughout egypt. The 2015 egypt health issues survey ehis was conducted on behalf of the ministry of health and population by elzanaty and associates. Today, most people become infected with the hepatitis c virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Seroprevalence of hepatitis c virus in iraqi population. Read a national strategy for the elimination of hepatitis. Hepatitis c is a chronic, often dormant infection, with most individuals living asymptomatically for decades before developing complications. The hepatitis c epidemic in egyptthe country with the highest prevalence of the disease in the worldstarted around 50 years ago, when the government was attempting to get rid of one plague. For some people, hepatitis c is a shortterm illness but for 70%85% of people who become infected with the hepatitis c.
Hepatitis c viral infection is endemic in egypt with the highest prevalence rate in the world. Hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future article pdf available in international journal of general medicine volume 10. 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. The final analysis included articles written in english, with a casecontrol or longitudinal study design, and restricted to. Hepatitis c in egypt gideon global infectious diseases. Advances in the treatment of hepatitis c virus infection from easl 20. Curing hepatitis c, in an experiment the size of egypt. During 2016 in the united states, 18,153 hepatitis crelated deaths were reported to the national vital statistics system, representing a 6.
Geospatial epidemiology of hepatitis c infection in egypt 2017 by. State of egypts response to hepatitis c world bank documents. About 150 million people are chronically infected, four times as many as have h. The road to elimination of hcv in egypt easl international liver. On the occasion of world hepatitis day 2015 egypt has been chosen by the world health organization to host the ceremonial event. Estimate of hcv disease burden in 20 and 2030, in egypt. This research examines state actions and inactions with regards to the right to health of already infected patients.
Hcv rna can be detected in the serum in almost all patients within 12 wk of exposure. During the initial infection people often have mild or no symptoms. Hepatitis c is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis c virus. Curbing hepatitis c virus spread in egypt the lancet. Progress toward prevention and control of hepatitis c virus infection egypt, 20012012.
Agespecific hcv antibody and rna prevalence in egypt in. A literature search of pubmed was performed using the following keywords. Egypt ranks number one worldwide in terms of hepatitis c hcv prevalence. The prevalence and burden of hepatitis c virus hcv in egypt is one of the highest in the world, with an estimated 7% of the population living with hepatitis c viraemia. Overall there was a 15% decline in the hepatitis c notification rate in australia between 2007 and 2016 from 58. Antiviral medicines can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis c infection, thereby reducing the. These complications, unfortunately, are becoming increasingly common as egypt s infected population ages. Estimating prevalence of hepatitis c virus infection in. Acute hcv infection is asymptomatic in the majority of cases. This report is intended to provide information on trends in cases and rates of hepatitis b virus hbv and hepatitis c virus hcv infection to those who are concerned with the public health implications of these. Its hepatitis c prevalence is among the highest in the world cdc, 2012. Egypt is the most affected nation by hepatitis c virus hcv and needs a comprehensive characterization of hcv epidemiology to inform the scaleup of. Egypt health issues survey 2015 fr3 the dhs program.
Risk factors associated with high prevalence rates of. Female genital cutting and hepatitis c spread in egypt. Pdf hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future researchgate. 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. Often immigrants originate from areas of highprevalence of viral hepatitis and pose a challenge to the healthcare systems of the host nations. Egypt has the largest burden of hcv infection in the world, with a 10% prevalence of chronic hcv infection among persons aged 1559. Early on chronic infection typically has no symptoms. The recent advent of directacting antivirals1 has revolutionised the treatment of hepatitis c. Pdf egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world. The american university in cairo school of global affairs. Progress toward prevention and control of hepatitis c. An educate, test, and treat programme towards elimination.
At present, there is a continuous flow of immigrants from the south of the world to northwestern countries. What is less well known, however, is that these schemes were implemented by the egyptian ministry of. 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. Characterizing hepatitis c virus epidemiology in egypt. Egypts fragmented health system has made it difficult to maintain and reinforce national standards in health, dr bekedam says. Hepatitis c information division of viral hepatitis cdc.
Occasionally a fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and yellow tinged skin occurs. The state of hepatitis b and c in the mediterranean and. Pdf hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future. Hepatitis c virus hcv is a parenterally transmitted pathogen that has infected about 185 million people worldwide1 and is a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Yet, the challenge facing many individuals and countries today lies with their ability to access these treatments due to their relatively high prices. 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. Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis c virus hcv in the world, estimated nationally at 14.
Directacting antivirals achieve a permanent cure in over 90% of cases and have little or no sideeffects. For reasons that are not known, less than half of people who get hepatitis c. Percent of men and women with hepatitis c antibody by age in egypt in a 2008 12 and b 2015. The following background data on hepatitis c in egypt are abstracted from gideon. An egyptian pioneering test for hepatitis c virus a step forward to fight an endemic egyptian disease and a long. Acute hcv infection is typically defined as a new occurrence of viremia with conversion from an hcv rnanegative to an hcvpositive status.
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, epidemiology, risk factors, genotype and. The virus persists in the liver in about 75% to 85% of those initially infected. Applying these methods for hepatitis c virus hcv in egypt would support a more. Egypt ranks first worldwide in terms of the rates of chronic hepatitis infections who, july 2012. Pdf the epidemiology of hepatitis c virus in egypt. Hepatitis c in egypt past, present, and future ahmed elgharably,1,2 asmaa i gomaa,2 mary me crossey,1,2 peter j norsworthy,1 imam waked,2 simon d taylorrobinson1 1division of digestive health, department of surgery and cancer, st marys hospital, imperial college london, london, uk. 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. Fighting hepatitis c in egypt middle east institute. Full text detection of hepatitis c virus hcv among. Hepatitis c is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in egypt. Hepatitis c virus hcv is a global health threat, with egypt having the highest prevalence worldwide. Aims of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and virological and clinical characteristics of hepatitis c virus hcv infection in. Hcv infection is expected to be even a greater public health problem. Hepatitis c is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis c virus hcv that primarily affects the liver.
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