High Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Infection among Risk Groups in Egypt

Abdelwahab, Magy; Zakaria, S.; Kamel, M. A.; Abdel-Khaliq, M K; Mabrouk, Mahasen; Salama, Hind; Esmat, Gamal; Thomas, David L.; Strickland, G. Thomas

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1994.51.563

Cited by 122 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…With HCV seroprevalence at up to 40% in some areas of Egypt,13–16 based on blood-bank surveys, it is obvious that HCV is a huge public health issue within the country 17–19. A particular focus is placed on the Nile delta region which holds the greatest rates of infection and was, historically, the main focus for schistosomiasis 2.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Egyptian Ministry of Health has since proposed a new national strategy to control the HCV epidemic in Egypt with a greater capital fund and with support from the WHO as well as other institutes 19. This scheme was entitled “The Plan of Action for the Prevention, Care and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis 2014–2018” and promoted sofosbuvir (Sovaldi™, Gilead Sciences, San Francisco, USA) as its primary treatment 36.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hepatitis C in Egypt – past, present, and future

Elgharably¹,

Gomaa²,

Crossey³

et al. 2016

IJGM

163

132

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Hepatitis C viral infection is endemic in Egypt with the highest prevalence rate in the world. 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. What is less well known, however, is that these schemes were implemented by the Egyptian Ministry of Health on the advice of the World Health Organization. There has been a spectrum of treatments to target the public health disaster represented by the hepatitis C problem in Egypt: from the use of PEGylated interferon to the recent use of direct acting antiviral drugs. Some new treatments have shown >90% efficacy. However, cost is a key barrier to access these new medicines. This is coupled with a growing population, limited resources, and a lack of infection control practices which means Egypt still faces significant disease control issues today.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C in Egypt – past, present, and future

Elgharably¹,

Gomaa²,

Crossey³

et al. 2016

IJGM

163

132

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…HCV infection is a major public health problem in Egypt [6-8]. Blood bank and community-based surveys conducted in Egypt have reported sero-prevalence rates of HCV to be as high as 40% in some parts of the country [9-12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Further evidence for association of hepatitis C infection with parenteral schistosomiasis treatment in Egypt

et al. 2002

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BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and schistosomiasis are major public health problems in the Nile Delta of Egypt. To control schistosomiasis, mass treatment campaigns using tartar emetic injections were conducted in the 1960s through 1980s. Evidence suggests that inadequately sterilized needles used in these campaigns contributed to the transmission of HCV in the region. To corroborate this evidence, this study evaluates whether HCV infections clustered within houses in which household members had received parenteral treatment for schistosomiasis.MethodsA serosurvey was conducted in a village in the Nile Delta and residents were questioned about prior treatment for schistosomiasis. Sera were evaluated for the presence of antibodies to HCV. The GEE2 approach was used to test for clustering of HCV infections, where correlation of HCV infections within household members who had been treated for schistosomiasis was the parameter of interest.ResultsA history of parenteral treatment for schistosomiasis was observed to cluster within households, OR for clustering: 2.44 (95% CI: 1.47–4.06). Overall, HCV seropositivity was 40% (321/796) and was observed to cluster within households that had members who had received parenteral treatment for schistosomiasis, OR for clustering: 1.76 (95% CI: 1.05–2.95). No such evidence for clustering was found in the remaining households.ConclusionClustering of HCV infections and receipt of parenteral treatment for schistosomiasis within the same households provides further evidence of an association between the schistosomiasis treatment campaigns and the high HCV seroprevalence rates currently observed in the Nile delta of Egypt.

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“…In developed countries, the prevalence of such antibodies in adults is low and hence, the recommendation of administering HAV vaccine in adult CLD patients routinely is not only justified, but may also be cost-effective [2,3]. Egypt has a high population of patients with CLD, especially those related to HCV infection [4][5][6]. Little is known about the prevalence of HAV seropositivity (immunity) or susceptibility in patients with CLD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%