Treatment uptake among notified cases of hepatitis C virus infection in Norway, 1990 to 2022: a registry-based study to monitor progress towards elimination.

BackgroundHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is targeted for elimination as a public health threat by 2030. The World Health Organization goal for treatment uptake is ≥ 80% among cases diagnosed with an active HCV infection (RNA- or core antigen-positive), maintained for 2 years.AimTo calculate treatment uptake, time from diagnosis to treatment start and complete treatment dispensation among notified cases of HCV infection in Norway.

Monitoring Progress Towards the Elimination of Hepatitis C as a Public Health Threat in Norway: A Modelling Study Among People Who Inject Drugs and Immigrants.

Background: The global incidence target for the elimination of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs (PWID) is <2/100. In Norway, the hepatitis C epidemic is concentrated in PWID. Immigrants are the second most important risk group for chronic infection.

A comparison of two registry-based systems for the surveillance of persons hospitalised with COVID-19 in Norway, February 2020 to May 2022.

BackgroundThe surveillance of persons hospitalised with COVID-19 has been essential to ensure timely and appropriate public health response. Ideally, surveillance systems should distinguish persons hospitalised with COVID-19 from those hospitalised due to COVID-19.AimWe compared data in two national electronic health registries in Norway to critically appraise and inform the further development of the surveillance of persons hospitalised with COVID-19.

No evidence for added value of introducing mandatory COVID-19 testing for international travellers entering Norway with a valid EU digital COVID certificate.

Background: As a response to the emergence of the new Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant, on December 3, 2021, mandatory testing after entry to Norway was extended to include international travellers with a valid COVID-19 certificate. We aim to validate if mandatory testing upon arrival increased the proportion of travellers confirmed with a positive COVID-19 test after entry.

Methods: We used individual level data on registered travellers linked with data on COVID-19 testing and confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The correlation between socioeconomic factors and COVID-19 among immigrants in Norway: a register-based study.

Aim: Immigrants in Norway have higher COVID-19 notification and hospitalisation rates than Norwegian-born individuals. The knowledge about the role of socioeconomic factors to explain these differences is limited. We investigate the relationship between socioeconomic indicators at group level and epidemiological data for all notified cases of COVID-19 and related hospitalisations among the 23 largest immigrant groups in Norway.

COVID-19 among immigrants in Norway, notified infections, related hospitalizations and associated mortality: A register-based study.

Research concerning COVID-19 among immigrants is limited. We present epidemiological data for all notified cases of COVID-19 among the 17 largest immigrant groups in Norway, and related hospitalizations and mortality. We used data on all notified COVID-19 cases in Norway up to 18 October 2020, and associated hospitalizations and mortality, from the emergency preparedness register (including Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases) set up by The Norwegian Institute of Public Health to handle the pandemic.

Monitoring progress towards the first UNAIDS 90-90-90 target in key populations living with HIV in Norway.

Background: In line with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 target, Norway aims for at least 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to know their HIV-status. We produced current estimates of the number of PLHIV and undiagnosed population in Norway, overall and for six key subpopulations: Norwegian-born men who have sex with men (MSM), migrant MSM, Norwegian-born heterosexuals, migrant Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)-born heterosexuals, migrant non-SSA-born heterosexuals and people who inject drugs.

Methods: We used the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) HIV Modelling Tool on Norwegian HIV surveillance data through 2018 to estimate incidence, time from infection to diagnosis, PLHIV, and the number and proportion undiagnosed.

The 'Finnish new variant of ' escaping detection in the Aptima Combo 2 assay is widespread across Norway, June to August 2019.

The 'Finnish new variant of ' (FI-nvCT), escaping detection in the Aptima Combo 2 assay (AC2), is widespread across Norway. From June to August 2019, 84% (81/97) of available AC2/Aptima CT discordant samples from five laboratories were confirmed as FI-nvCT. Two additional CT variants (CT 23S rRNA C1514T and G1523A) also escaped AC2 detection.

Economic Evaluation of Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C in Norway.

Purpose: New direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C in recent years.

Objective: Our objective was to analyse the cost effectiveness of combinations of different DAAs compared with ribavirin and peginterferon-α-2a, taking into account rebates from tender negotiations.

Methods: We used a compartmental model specifically developed for Norway to simulate hepatitis C and complications with and without different DAAs.

Modelling the burden of hepatitis C infection among people who inject drugs in Norway, 1973-2030.

Background: Lack of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence data in (Norwegian) high-risk groups impedes the ability to make informed decisions on prevention measures. Thus we rely on modelling to estimate the incidence and burden of HCV infections.

Methods: We constructed a compartmental model for HCV infections in Norway among active and former people who inject drugs (PWIDs).

Travel-associated gonorrhoea in four Nordic countries, 2008 to 2013.

Travel may be associated with a higher risk of gonorrhoea and infection by antibiotic-resistant strains. The objective of this study was to estimate the risk for gonorrhoea among travellers from four Nordic European countries using surveillance data and to identify at-risk travellers to help target interventions. We retrieved gonorrhoea surveillance data from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and tourism denominator data from the Statistical Office of the European Union.

Denominators count: supplementing surveillance data for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection with testing data, Norway, 2007 to 2013.

As genital Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) infection is often asymptomatic, surveillance of diagnosed cases is heavily influenced by the rate and distribution of testing. In 2007, we started supplementing case-based surveillance data from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS) with aggregated data on age group and sex of individuals tested. In this report, annual testing rates, diagnosis rates and proportion positive for chlamydia in Norway between 1990 and 2013 are presented.

Systematic screening with information and home sampling for genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections in young men and women in Norway: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: As most genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections are asymptomatic, many patients do not seek health care for testing. Infections remain undiagnosed and untreated. We studied whether screening with information and home sampling resulted in more young people getting tested, diagnosed and treated for chlamydia in the three months following the intervention compared to the current strategy of testing in the health care system.

Population based study of genital Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and associated factors in Norway: a cross sectional study.

Background: The number of diagnosed cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection has been increasing in the past years in Norway although the testing rate has been relatively stable. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis in young men and women in one county in Norway and determine associated factors in order to better target preventive measures.

Methods: We mailed to a random sample of 10,000 persons aged 18-25 in Rogaland county a mail-back urine sample kit and a self-administered questionnaire with questions on socio-demographic details, health seeking behaviour and symptoms of and history of sexually transmitted diseases.

Epidemiology of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Norway, 1992-2009.

Background: Norway is classified as a low prevalence country for hepatitis B virus infection. Vaccination is only recommended for risk groups (intravenous drug users (IDUs), Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), immigrants and contacts of known carriers). We describe the epidemiology of reported cases of hepatitis B in Norway, during the years 1992-2009 in order to assess the validity of current risk groups and recommend preventive measures.

[Antibiotic treatment of women with group B Steptococci during delivery?].

Background: Transmission of group B Steptococci from mother to child during delivery may cause serious disease in some children, but this can be prevented by use of antibiotic treatment during delivery. We have estimated how antibiotic treatment of all pregnant carriers of group B streptococcus during delivery would affect the total antibiotic use in Norway.

Material And Methods: We estimated the use of penicillin G for treatment of 10 %, 20 % and 30 % of streptococcus carriers among those delivering.

Chlamydia trachomatis infections in norway, 1986 to 2006, surveillance data.

Introduction: The number of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Norway has been increasing for the last years. A new and enhanced surveillance system was implemented in 2005 to meet the challenges faced by the increasing number of cases.

Methods: The new surveillance system is laboratory based.

A large outbreak of hepatitis E among a displaced population in Darfur, Sudan, 2004: the role of water treatment methods.

Background: The conflict in Darfur, Sudan, was responsible for the displacement of 1.8 million civilians. We investigated a large outbreak of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Mornay camp (78,800 inhabitants) in western Darfur.

High mortality associated with an outbreak of hepatitis E among displaced persons in Darfur, Sudan.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes acute onset of jaundice and a high case-fatality ratio in pregnant women. We provide a clinical description of hospitalized case patients and assess the specific impact on pregnant women during a large epidemic of HEV infection in a displaced population in Mornay camp (78,800 inhabitants), western Darfur, Sudan.

Methods: We reviewed hospital records.