Viral hepatitis is making the headlines . Here ’ s the latest news from the field of viral hepatitis this month .
Hep Headlines hep headlines
Viral hepatitis is making the headlines . Here ’ s the latest news from the field of viral hepatitis this month .
Hepatitis community rebukes study on hepatitis B treatment in pregnant women
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that pregnant women who received tenofovir did not experience a lower rate of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B compared to those who received a placebo . Organisations including the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and the Hepatitis B Foundation have discredited the study due to a small sample size and limited evidence . Mother-tochild remains one of the most common modes of transmission of hepatitis B so it is crucial that all pregnant women are tested . Newborns can be protected from infection by receiving the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine is the first 24 hours of life . Doctors may also recommend treatment if the mother has a high viral load , highlighting why screening and follow-up care are so fundamental to tackling hepatitis B . Find out more about pregnancy and hepatitis B in this factsheet from the Hepatitis B Foundation .
WHO launches new surveillance protocol
At the Annual Conference of the
Asia Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver , WHO launched their new surveillance protocol to improve understanding of the link between viral hepatitis and cirrhosis and liver cancer . The protocol calls for better documentation of the causes of death of cirrhosis and liver cancer that aren ’ t currently attributed to viral hepatitis . This will be key to obtaining more accurate data on the scope of the issue and improve national elimination strategies . Side event on hepatitis C among people who use drugs at the CND ( Photo credit : ANPUD )
Side event at the CND highlights disproportionate impact of hepatitis C on people who use drugs
People who inject drugs are disproportionally affected by hepatitis C , and so without access 4 hep Voice April 2018