Why in the News?

Recently the WHO announced that Egypt had made “unprecedented progress” towards eliminating hepatitis C.

Context:

• As per the World Health Organization (WHO), Egypt has attained a significant milestone by becoming the inaugural country to reach the "gold tier" status in its pursuit of eliminating hepatitis C, meeting the criteria established by the global health organization.
• Egypt has successfully identified 87% of individuals with hepatitis C and has administered curative treatment to 93% of those diagnosed, surpassing the WHO's gold-tier benchmarks.
• These targets include diagnosing a minimum of 80% of individuals with hepatitis C and offering treatment to at least 70% of those identified, marking a commendable achievement for Egypt in the global effort against the disease.

What is Hepatitis C?

• Hepatitis C is a viral infection impacting the liver, causing both acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) illnesses that can be life-threatening.
• Transmission occurs through contact with infected blood, such as sharing needles, unsafe medical procedures like unscreened blood transfusions, and vertical transmission from an infected mother to her baby.
• It can also be transmitted through certain sexual practices involving blood exposure.
• Contrary to misconceptions, Hepatitis C is not spread through breast milk, food, water, or casual contact like hugging, kissing, or sharing food/drinks with an infected person.
• Symptoms encompass fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Geographically, this viral infection is present in all WHO regions, with the Eastern Mediterranean Region and European Region bearing the highest disease burden.
• New infections often lack symptoms, making diagnosis challenging, and chronic infections may remain asymptomatic for decades until severe liver damage prompts noticeable symptoms.
• While no vaccine exists for Hepatitis C, antiviral medications offer effective treatment options.

What is Gold Tier Status?

• Gold tier status involves fulfilling distinct criteria, which encompass:
• Guaranteeing 100% blood and injection safety, with a commitment to maintaining a minimum of 150 needles/syringes annually for individuals who inject drugs (PWID).
• Achieving a diagnosis rate of over 80% for individuals living with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• Providing treatment to over 70% of individuals diagnosed with HCV.
• Instituting a sentinel surveillance program for hepatitis sequelae, with a focus on conditions such as liver cancer.