Hepatitis B virus elimination status and strategies in circumpolar countries, 2020

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a global health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) established a goal to eliminate HBV infection as a public health threat by 2030, and defined targets for key interventions to achieve that goal. We evaluated HBV burden and relevant national recommendations for progress towards WHO targets in circumpolar countries. Viral hepatitis experts of circumpolar countries were surveyed regarding their country’s burden of HBV, achievement of WHO targets and national public health authority recommendations for HBV prevention and control. Eight of nine circumpolar countries responded. All countries continue to see new HBV infections. Data about HBV prevalence and progress in reaching WHO 2030 elimination targets are lacking. No country was able to report data for all seven WHO target measures. All countries have recommendations targeting the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Only the USA and Greenland recommend universal birth dose vaccination. Four countries have recommendations to screen persons at high risk for HBV. Existing recommendations largely address prevention; however, recommendations for universal birth dose vaccination have not been widely introduced. Opportunities remain for the development of trackable targets and national elimination planning to screen and treat for HBV to reduce incidence and mortality.

Epidemiology of Viral Hepatitis in the Indigenous Populations of the Arctic Zone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)

“…Such a decrease in the HBV prevalence appears to be related to the universal newborn vaccination program that started in 1998 and the adult vaccination campaign that started in 2006. The observed decrease resembles the drop in hepatitis B incidence and HBsAg positivity rates observed in other indigenous populations of the Circumpolar Arctic following the implementation of universal birth dose vaccination programs [3,42]. According to published data, hepatitis B vaccination coverage in the Russian Arctic in 2019 exceeded 90% in children and adults aged up to 35 years and 83.7% among people aged 36-59 years [17].…”

“…Due to its high prevalence, blood-borne viral hepatitis, mainly types B and C, poses a significant threat to the health of the indigenous populations of the Circumpolar Arctic; however, the hepatitis B burden is gradually decreasing due to the infant vaccination program [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. These hard-to-reach and significantly affected populations are one of the most important groups that require targeted hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment services to achieve the key indicators of the World Health Organization (WHO) viral hepatitis elimination program, defined as a 90% decrease in incidence and a 65% decrease in mortality [ 4 ].…”

Good Practices and Initiatives for the Control and Elimination of Hepatitis B in the World: A Scoping Review

“…Following a thorough examination of the full-text articles, 46 records were excluded based on predefined eligibility criteria. Ultimately, 16 articles were deemed eligible and included in the scoping review [4,[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23]. The PRISMA flow diagram showcases a rigorous and transparent process, highlighting the systematic approach taken to…”

Digital Marketing: A Unique Multidisciplinary Approach towards the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis

“…In the implementation of a strong surveillance system in order to screen donated blood, pregnant women and persons with high-risk behavior are critical policies. This facilitates a series of effective prophylactic measures that can suppress the viral transmission in human communities [163]. In the case of HBV, the administration of vaccines and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) to infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers is an important and time-dependent measurement [164].…”