Mar 7 2018
A new Journal of Internal Medicine study describes an innovative program to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) as a public health threat in Iceland.
In the TraP Hep C program, which started in January 2016, an emphasis is placed on finding early cases and treating patients at high risk for transmitting HCV: people who inject drugs. All patients with national health insurance are offered treatment regardless of fibrosis stage and comorbid conditions.
The program includes a multidisciplinary public health model of care and cooperation between government, health services, the penitentiary system, and community organizations. The results of the Icelandic project will provide important data and inform others globally trying to achieve the World Health Organization's goal of HCV elimination by 2030.
"So far this project has been extremely well received by patients, and we are aiming to complete the active treatment phase, encompassing all known cases in the country, by the end of 2018," said senior author Dr. Magnus Gottfredsson, of the University of Iceland.
Persistent COVID-19 could drive virus evolution, new study suggests