Mass screening for hepatitis B and C in Southern Upper Egypt.

Background: It is well documented that Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the world. The recent development of highly effective direct acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), has opened the possibility of treating and curing HCV infection in the Egyptian population on a large scale.

Methods: A screening demonstration project was implemented in southern Egypt in and around the city of Luxor.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus exposure in Egypt: Opportunities for prevention and evaluation.

Aim: To critically evaluate the current epidemiology data on exposures, rather than infection, to hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission and recommend epidemiologic strategies to fill gaps.

Methods: Standard methods for identifying and evaluating relevant epidemiologic literature and available data were used.

Results: There is a large body of literature on the epidemiology of HCV transmission in Egypt that collectively identifies ongoing iatrogenic exposures as the major driver for HCV transmission due to short comings in infection control and standard procedures.