Hepatitis C infection in Egypt: prevalence, impact and management strategies [Corrigendum]

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health burden in Egypt, where it bears the highest prevalence rate in the world. Estimates for prevalence are based upon data reported from the 2008 and 2015 Egypt Demographic Health Surveys. In this review, we demonstrate the prevalence results of both surveys and analyze the difference in the results. The overall HCV prevalence is estimated to be declining. However, the clinical impact of chronic HCV infection is expected to grow considerably. A mathematical model shows that by increasing the rate of treatment, the expected number of patients will decline significantly in 2030. The current and expected future burden of chronic HCV infection to the Egyptian economy, including direct and indirect costs due to disability and loss of lives, has been estimated and discussed in this review. The economic burden will continue to grow, but a model shows that the introduction of highly effective therapies will result in a significant reduction in the cumulative total economic burden of HCV by 2030. In recognition of the HCV tremendous health and economic burden, the Egyptian government established the National Committee for Control of Viral Hepatitis to implement an integrated nationwide strategy to provide patient care and ensure global treatment access. This review illustrates the epidemiological and disease burden aspects of HCV in Egypt in addition to introducing the national plan and program for managing HCV, which has been successful so far in treating a large number of patients, with the aim of achieving disease control and eventual elimination in Egypt. Prevalence The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt is the highest in the world. 1 This became apparent early on, soon after the discovery of HCV. Seropreva-lence among Egyptian blood donors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was found to be much higher than that in blood donors from all other nationalities. 2 Since then, it became apparent that HCV infection was widespread among Egyptians and that it was the main cause of liver disease in the country. Until the HCV epidemic became apparent, schistosomiasis was the most important public health problem in Egypt. 3 In 1918, Christopherson made the discovery that injections with the antimony salt, tartar emetic, could induce a cure. 4 Mass treatment of the parasite was then introduced, and from the 1950s to the 1980s, nationwide mass anti-schistosomal therapy with a series of intravenous injections of tartar emetic was adopted by the Egyptian Ministry of Health (MOH) with the advice and support of the World Health Organization (WHO). 5,6 More than 2 million injections were given annually to an average of 250,000 patients. Over the 18 years of treatment, 36 million injections were administered to >6 million Video abstract Point your SmartPhone at the code above. If you have a QR code reader the video abstract will appear. Or use: