A new report urges all European countries to adopt universal vaccination against hepatitis -
To coincide with World Hepatitis Day, a new report , controlled by United European Gastroenterology (UEG), called on all European countries to adopt universal vaccination and harmonized screening programs for hepatitis, as well as improvement of neonatal screening, to help speed up the eradication of disease.
About 30 million people in the EU suffer from chronic liver disease, a major cause of which is infection of hepatitis. Many who have chronic liver disease have suffered since childhood and require a lifetime of care at considerable economic cost.
"pediatric liver disease becoming more common in young children and, more importantly, the chronic liver disease in children is a growing problem, with important effects on public health and the economic burden throughout Europe, "says expert liver UEG Helena Cortez-Pinto." We urgently need to find a cost effective solution to control the spread of hepatitis and to reduce the socio-economic burden of disease and medical opinion suggests that the best solution in the current situation would be the adoption of universal vaccination against hepatitis B, and screening for high-risk groups. "
Although the incidence of hepatitis B (HBV) has decreased significantly since the implementation of universal immunization programs in several countries, several Member States still do not carry out vaccination systematic kids programs and a significant number of children are still infected each year. Furthermore, there is no vaccine against hepatitis C and even HIV infection rates continue to rise in Europe, with diagnosis rates increase by a third in England and significantly higher rates being recorded Southern Europe, including Italy, Romania and Spain. Both viruses cause not only seriously compromised quality of life and delayed development, but also carry a significant risk of cirrhosis and cancer.
Liver Association European patients (ELPA), warns against the financial impact of liver disease, particularly hepatitis in their "draft White Paper - the burden socio- economic hepatitis in Europe " and urges policymakers to consider that early detection and prevention could actually help to save long-term EU resources
.to support the World Day against hepatitis, the World Hepatitis Alliance launches new campaign '# NOhep , which aims to eradicate viral hepatitis in 2030. Alliance believes more than 7 million lives could be saved worldwide by 2030 if universal vaccination programs were introduced.
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