Targeted testing is an essential element of any strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis across the countries in the European Union and European Economic Area. Some preliminary monitoring results on the response to hepatitis B and C presented around World Hepatitis Day show that diagnosing chronic infections is still a challenge in the EU/EEA.
In order to maximise the benefits of treatment for HIV or viral hepatitis, it is critical to test and diagnose people as soon as possible in the course of the infection. ECDC supports this objective of European Testing Week.
In 2017, 31 273 cases of hepatitis C were reported in 29 EU/EEA Member States. Excluding countries that only reported acute cases, 31 178 cases corresponds to a crude rate of 7.3 cases per 100 000 population.
The Carnival season will last from 1 to 9 March 2019. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1 million participants are expected, including many travellers from Europe
The scope of this project was to provide an overview of different effective testing strategies for hepatitis B and C and their outcomes in the EU/EEA, covering all relevant population groups and settings.