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This issue of Viral Hepatitis fully focuses on Turkey and reviews the organization of the healthcare system, the epidemiological situation, surveillance system, research activities, and current prevention and control measures of viral hepatitis. And the meeting discussions on the progress achieved in hepatitis prevention 10 years after the introduction of universal hepatitis B vaccination. It also includes an update on WHO strategies and recommendations for viral hepatitis prevention and control in WHO European Region and in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
World Health Assembly adopted the “Viral Hepatitis” resolution (WHA.63.18).
Last May, the member states at the 63rd World Health Assembly in Geneva adopted a resolution urging the World Health Organization to strengthen the global approach to the prevention and control of chronic viral hepatitis. This resolution also calls for a WHO sponsored World Hepatitis Day from next year on, on July 28, in order to provide an opportunity for education and awareness campaigns for a greater understanding of viral hepatitis.
This Viral hepatitis resolution WHA63.18 is available on the WHO website: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R18-en.pdf
Meeting "Identification and management of persons with chronic hepatitis in Europe" is online.
Objectives of the meeting were:
- To take stock of the current screening of chronic diseases and lessons learnt;
- To apply the screening criteria ( the Wilson and Jungner criteria) on the identification of persons with chronic hepatitis;
- To report on HTA (health technology assessment) of such identification programmes;
- To learn how screening and the management of the identified persons can reduce the morbidity and mortality of chronic viral hepatitis;
- To discuss if the potential benefits of identifying chronic viral hepatitis and preventing the development of the health problem outweigh the cost and potential harm associated with the screening process;
- List the conditions required for the successful implementation;
- Discuss strength and weaknesses of screening as well as other public health and social aspects or consequences;
- Evaluate the impact of a diagnosis on individual well being.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
March 2010, Budapest, Hungary.
Meeting "Burden and Prevention of Viral Hepatitis in Turkey" is online.
Objectives of the meeting were:
- provide an overview of surveillance systems for infectious diseases;
- Review the epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis;
- Give an overview of the current prevention and control measures on viral hepatitis;
- Discuss the progress achieved in hepatitis prevention 10 years after the introduction of Universal Hepatitis B vaccination
- Review the possible implementation of new prevention strategies, control measures and monitoring systems;
- Discuss the successes, problems and barriers to overcome, and the way forward;The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
November 2009, Istanbul, Turkey.
This issue of the Viral Hepatitis contains topics related to Hepatitis A (HAV) included feedback of the Global HAV meeting held in December 2007 in Miami, related lessons learned for the WHO European region and recent information on HAV epidemiology, outbreaks and prevention. With regards to Hepatitis E (HEV), an overview of HEV virology and the disease is given together with its worldwide epidemiology, including data suggesting zoonotic transmission. The emergence of HEV in non-endemic/endemic countries is assessed. For both, HAV and HEV, future opportunities and initiatives are discussed.
WHO issued a review of the position paper on Hepatitis B vaccines.
The October 2 issue of the WHO periodical "Weekly Epidemiological Record" covered the latest WHO position paper on hepatitis B vaccines. To access it, go to: http://www.who.int/wer/2009/wer8440.pdf
All WHO position papers on vaccines are available in alphabetical order at http://www.who.int/immunization/documents/positionpapers.
This issue of Viral Hepatitis fully focuses on the Netherlands and reviews the organization of the healthcare system, the epidemiological situation, surveillance system, research activities, and current prevention and control measures of viral hepatitis. It also includes the meeting discussions that were particularly interesting as the Dutch Ministry of Health was re-evaluating the possible introduction of universal hepatitis B vaccination into the National Immunization programme at the time of this VHPB meeting.
Endorsement of world hepatitis day 19 May 2009.
The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, working to increase awareness of viral hepatitis since 1992, endorses the world hepatitis day 2009.
There is a clear lack of attention towards prevention and control of viral hepatitis. Major gaps exist towards surveillance of acute cases and data on chronic viral hepatitis is almost non-existing. Although on the level of primary prevention of hepatitis B infection significant achievements can be reported, at the end of 2008 175 of 193 WHO member states had introduced universal vaccination, a lot still needs to be done. The benefit of vaccination against hepatitis B is sometimes perceived as limited, leading to rejection of vaccination. Awareness of the real disease menace is crucial and the value of protection against infection needs continuous promotion. Young chronic hepatitis B patients are testimonies of the breaches in the current prevention programmes.
Taken into account the importance and relevance of this initiative the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board endorses the overall objectives of the World Hepatitis Day. We hope that this patient driven initiative will have a major global impact on the general awareness of Viral Hepatitis, and will increase the political commitment to prevent and control viral hepatitis infection and its consequences.
Meeting "Hepatitis A and E: Update on Prevention and epidemiology" is online.
Aims of the meeting were:
Hepatitis A
- Provide a feedback of the Miami meeting : “Has the time come to control Hepatitis A globally” December 2007;
- Discuss the lessons learned for Western-Europe and WHO European region;
- Provide recent information on Hepatitis A epidemiology and prevention;
- Discuss future initiatives and HAV related topics;
Hepatitis E
- Give an overview of the virology of HEV;
- Review the disease and its worldwide epidemiology;
- Explain the zoonotic transmission of HEV;
- Assess HEV emergence in non-endemic/endemic countries;
- Discuss the vaccines against HEV and their future;The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
March 2009, Antwerp, Belgium.
Aims of the meeting were:
- Overview of surveillance systems for infectious diseases;
- Update of the epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis;
- Evaluation of current prevention and control measures on viral hepatitis;
- Discussion on possible implementation of new prevention strategies, control measures and monitoring systems. ;
- Successes, problems and barriers to overcome measures on viral hepatitis;The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
November 2008, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
This Viral Hepatitis issues provides an overview of the activities, role, rationale and impact of several liver patient and advocacy groups in Europe and the US; gives examples of experiences of international and national liver patient and advocacy groups; identifies challenges and thresholds experienced by liver patient and advocacy groups regarding their role and impact on prevention and control of viral hepatitis.
Strong response to a recently published paper by a group of French researchers Y. Mikaeloff and colleagues in Neurology entitled: “Hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of CNS inflammatory demyelisation in childhood." October 2008.
The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) considers that the findings from this study do not provide convincing evidence that HB vaccination, or use of any brand of HB vaccine, is associated with an increased risk of MS or of an episode of acute CNS inflammatory demyelination. More on the WHO/GACVS web site.
The Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé (AFSSAPS) has issued a press release stating that the main and major result of this study does not reveal any association between vaccination against hepatitis B and the risk of MS. The National Advisory Board of Pharmacovigilance also pointed to shortcomings in the study and considers that the results of the analysis of the sub-group of children having followed the vaccine recommendations are deemed to be fortuitous.The French Ministry of Health and the High Counsel of Public Health (HCSP) share this opinion and recommend continuation of the current vaccination policy and reinforcement of the current low vaccination coverage. Full text of this advice (in French) on the HCSP web site.
Endorsement of world hepatitis day 19 May 2008.
The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, working to increase awareness of viral hepatitis since 1992, fully endorses the world hepatitis day 2008.
There is a clear lack of attention towards prevention and control of viral hepatitis. Major gaps exist towards surveillance of acute cases and data on chronic viral hepatitis is almost non-existing. Although on the level of primary prevention of hepatitis B infection significant achievements can be reported, in 2006 154 of 193 WHO member states had introduced universal vaccination, a lot still needs to be done. The benefit of vaccination against hepatitis B is sometimes perceived as limited, leading to rejection of vaccination. Awareness of the real disease menace is crucial and the value of protection against infection needs continuous promotion. Young chronic hepatitis B patients are testimonies of the breaches in the current prevention programmes.
We hope that this patient driven initiative will have a major global impact on the general awareness of Viral Hepatitis and will increase the political commitment to prevent and control viral hepatitis infection and its consequences.
This issue reviews the organization of healthcare system, the epidemiological situation, surveillance system, research activities, and current prevention and control measures of viral hepatitis in Greece.
Aims of the meeting were:
- Provide an overview of the activities, role, rationale and impact of patient and advocacy groups in Europe and the US in terms of prevention and control of viral Hepatitis;
- Give examples of experiences of international and national patient and advocacy groups in Europe and the US;
- Identify challenges and thresholds experienced by liver patient groups regarding their role and impact on prevention and control of viral hepatitis;
- Discuss the role and impact of various partner agencies and organisations;
- Discuss lessons learnt and opportunities.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB - ELPA meeting
March 2008, Lucca, Italy.
Viral Hepatitis, Volume 16, Number 1, prepared from material presented at the VHPB - EUSUHM meeting on 'Prevention and control of viral hepatitis through adolescent health programmes in Europe' is online. 631Kb (.pdf) Higher resolution version for printing 3Mb (.pdf)
This issue reviews the importance of reaching adolescents, provides an overview of currently existing youth health systems and reviews the experiences with childhood and adolescent immunization programmes of the industrialized countries represented.
Aims of the meeting were:
- Overview of surveillance systems for infectious diseases;
- Update of the epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis;
- Evaluation of current prevention and control measures on viral hepatitis;
- Successes, problems and barriers to overcome measures on viral hepatitis;The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
November/2007, Athens, Greece.
Russian translations of Viral Hepatitis Issues are gathered on new page ‘Russian Material’.
An additional page, ‘Russian material’ has been created under ‘Meetings and publications’. The Russian translations of Viral Hepatitis Issues are now gathered on this new page and can be downloaded as pdf.
This issue reviews the organization of healthcare system, the epidemiological situation, surveillance system, research activities, and current prevention and control measures of viral hepatitis in Spain.
Aims of the meeting were:
- Provide an overview of the importance of reaching adolescents, currently existing youth health systems, and countries with childhood and adolescent immunization programmes in Europe;
- Identify obstacles and limitations to the setting up implementing and evaluating of vaccination programmes for children and adolescents;
- Consider the role of various partners;
- Highlight issues;
- Discuss lessons learnt and opportunities.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB - EUSUHM meeting
March/2007, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Issues relating to current epidemiology of perinatal HBV transmission, scientific evidence of prevention and control of HBV transmission through vaccination, and country experience and examples of good practices on prevention and control of perinatal HBV transmission are reviewed.
Objectives of the meeting were:
- Update of the epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis in Spain;
- Overview of surveillance systems for infectious diseases in Spain;
- Overview of the research activities on viral hepatitis in Spain;
- Evaluation of current prevention and control measures on viral hepatitis in Spain;
- Lessons learnt from the experience in Spain: successes, problems and barriers to overcome, and the way forward.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
Nov/2006, Madrid, Spain
This issue provides updated information on the epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis (A, B, C) in the UK and discusses various viral hepatitis control measures, prevention strategies and evaluation methods implemented or considered in the UK.
Topics covered during this meeting:
- Epidemiology of perinatal HBV transmission globally and in the WHO European Region;
- Overview of the scientific evidence on prevention and control of perinatal HBV transmission through vaccination;
- Overview of countries with hepatitis B birth dose administration and maternal screening;
- Examples and experiences of countries regarding prevention and control of perinatal HBV transmission;
- Challenges and thresholds experienced while improving perinatal HBV transmission;
- Lessons learnt and opportunities.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and all the presentations (English and Russian versions) of this meeting are available.
CDC - UNICEF - VHPB - WHO meeting
Mar/2006, Istanbul, Turkey
Meeting "Can the United Kingdom control viral hepatitis?" is online.
Objectives of the meeting:
- How England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland fit together – politics, healthcare, decision making, research, funding;
- Update of the epidemiological situation on viral hepatitis (A, B, C) in the UK;
- Viral hepatitis: virology, clinical aspects, control, public health aspects, economic aspects;
- Hepatitis B vaccination in the UK: selective or selective plus universal?
- Hepatitis C: testing, management, modelling, and national strategy.
- Lessons learnt from the UK experience.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and all the presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
Nov/2005, Edinburgh, UK
Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and other blood-borne infections in healthcare workers. Viral Hepatitis, volume 14, number 1 620 Kb (.pfd)
This issue of Viral Hepatitis covers following topics:
- global epidemiology of blood-borne infections in healthcare workers
- transmission of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus as an occupational risk
- primary and secondary prevention measures against HBV and HCV infections in healthcare workers
- recommendations for HBV-, HCV-, or HIV-infected healthcare workers or (para)medical students.
Electronic version of the meeting report "Strengthening immunisation systems and introduction of hepatitis B vaccine in Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States" is available. (55 pages) (1650 Kb, pdf)
Russian version of meeting report also available (1760 Kb, pdf)
Following topics are covered in this report:
- current situation and issues in the participating countries in terms of hepatitis B epidemiology and hepatitis B vaccination programmes
- safety issues of hepatitis B vaccines and vaccination programmes at country level
- financial sustainability of hepatitis B vaccinationJune 2005
VHPB web site part of the WHO Vaccine Safety Network.
A new page having links to organisations with websites that meet the credibility and content criteria of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has been created. Vaccine Safety Network
Topics covered during the meeting:
- global epidemiology of blood-borne infections in healthcare workers
- transmission of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus as an occupational risk
- primary and secondary prevention measures against HBV and HCV infections in healthcare workers
- recommendations for HBV-, HCV-, or HIV-infected healthcare workers or (para)medical students.The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most of the presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
Mar/2005, Rome, Italy
This issue of Viral Hepatitis provides:
- an update of the epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis in France
- an overview of the surveillance systems for infectious diseases and adverse events following vaccination
- an evaluation of the current French prevention and control measures.
The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and all of the presentations of this meeting are available.
VHPB meeting
Nov/2004, Veyrier-Du-Lac, France
This issue of Viral Hepatitis provides an overview of the newest knowledge on long-term efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine, effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination programmes, and immune memory induced by hepatitis B vaccine. It also contains an update of the current hepatitis B booster recommendations and the viewpoints on the potential impact of HBV mutants on hepatitis B vaccination programmes.
Official WHO statement on hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of multiple sclerosis
With respect to the recent publication by Hern¨¤n et al. entitled ¡°Recombinant Hepatitis B Vaccine and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis¡±, published in the September 14, 2004 issue of in Neurology, the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board refers to the statement on this issue by the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The focus in this issue of Viral Hepatitis is completely on Germany and the Nordic Countries. It provides an update of the epidemiological situation of viral hepatitis, gives an overview of the surveillance systems for infectious diseases and adverse events following vaccination, and offers an evaluation of current prevention and control measures used in these countries.
The planned achievements of the meeting were: (1) to get an update on the current situation and issues in the participating countries in terms of hepatitis B epidemiology and hepatitis B vaccination programmes, (2) to obtain a better understanding of the safety issues of hepatitis B vaccines and vaccination programmes at country level and, (3) to have a better knowledge of financial sustainability of hepatitis B vaccines at country level. The meeting programme, background documents, and most of the presentations (English and Russian versions) of this meeting are available. Please note that only the English version of the presentations can be retrieved via by the VHPB document search tool.
CDC - CVP/PATH - GAVI - UNICEF - VHPB - WHO meeting
May/2004- Kyiv, Ukraine
The meeting programme, the pre-meeting document and most of the presentations of this meeting are available. The objectives of this meeting were to: (1) Review the long-term efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine and effectiveness of hepatitis B vaccination programmes. (2) Review data on immune memory induced by hepatitis B vaccine. (3) Update the current hepatitis B booster vaccination recommendations. (4) Update viewpoints on the potential impact of HBV mutants on hepatitis B vaccination programmes.
VHPB meeting
Mar/2004 - Sevilla, Spain
In this issue of Viral Hepatitis we review the safety profile of the hepatitis B vaccine; the impact of safety issues on national and international immunisation programmes; and various strategies to help develop a policy that takes anti-vaccination movements and vaccine 'scares' into consideration.