ROMA (ITALPRESS) – On July 28th the World Day against Hepatitis was celebrated, an opportunity to spread the message of the World Health Organization (WHO) which invites us to implement initiatives to end hepatitis as a public health problem. It makes known the Higher Institute of Health. WHO estimates are explicit: 287 million people in the world live with chronic hepatitis from B (HBV) and C (HCV). Every year, there are almost two million new cases and over 1.3 million people die due to pathologies such as cirrhosis and liver cancer: the highest number of deaths among all infectious diseases. Many people add to these, emphasizes the World Hepatitis Alliance on the site dedicated to the day, which have no symptoms, and therefore discover to have the disease when it is too late.
Chronic hepatitis from B and C viruses are also widespread in our country, although new infections are reported in decline. In addition, hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) virus infections are widespread in countries with low hygienic-sanitary standards but also occur in European countries, Italy included, both with sporadic cases and epidemic outbreaks (see below). Eliminating hepatitis, recalls the Higher Institute of Health (ISS), means preventing cirrhosis, liver tumors, shelters and preventable deaths. In Italy viral hepatitis have represented a serious public health emergency for many years: about ten years ago the related mortality was almost three times higher than the one observed today. Progress achieved through diagnosis and antiviral therapies shows that these diseases can be prevented and cured, but the guard should not be lowered. Today we have simple tests and highly effective therapies; for this reason it is essential to adhere to screening, perform the test at least once in life and take every opportunity for an early diagnosis. The fight against hepatitis must be considered, to all effects, a strategy of contrast to cancer, through anti-HBV vaccination, early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C.
In our country, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the ISS, Regions, scientific societies and patient associations, worked on a National Action Plan to end viral hepatitis, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (IST). The Plan, currently approved by the State-Regions Conference, includes strategies to improve prevention and promote early diagnosis and access to therapies, with the aim of significantly reducing new infections and mortality.
“Viral hepatitis are still a major public health issue today – says Anna Teresa Palamara, who heads the Infectious Disease Department of Iss – that our country wants to deal with a National Plan that includes diseases and pathogens joined by some of the transmission modes such as hepatitis, HIV and IST. Plan also proposes a series of measures to improve the efficiency of screening and facilitate access to treatment, since the diagnosis of viral hepatitis has always been a critical element since most people do not have obvious symptoms and perform the test late, risking developing an advanced liver disease.”.
In recent years, the ISS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has committed itself on several fronts for the prevention and control of hepatitis, putting in place actions aimed at achieving the objectives placed by the WHO through the activity of structures of the ISS connected with the territory. Among these, the ISS National Reference Laboratory, directed by Anna Rita Ciccaglione, which coordinates the National Network of Regional Reference Laboratories for Virological Surveillance of Virological Hepatitis and the SEIEVA surveillance system coordinated by Maria Elena Tosti, which, through epidemiological insights on acute infections from hepatitis viruses, promotes its national investigation and control at local and local level. A further monitoring network consists of the PITER network (Piattaforma Italiana per lo Studio delle terapie delle hepatiti ViRali), coordinated by Loreta Kondili that collects patient data with chronic hepatopathy viral from hepatitis B, C and Delta viruses. The network produces evidence from clinical practice on treatment needs and the impact of therapies, in support of health policies.
The ISS also coordinates projects funded by the Ministry of Health to improve hepatitis C screening, takeover and early access to care, as well as hepatitis B and Delta research projects. It also participates in European and international initiatives with scientific institutions, networks and stakeholders, to counter inequalities and prevent cancer through anti-HBV vaccination, early diagnosis and hepatitis C therapy. Given the possible sexual transmission, the positive signal to hepatitis B and C viruses, has recently been included in the Sentinel IST Surveillance, coordinated by Maria Cristina Salfa. The ISS also coordinates projects funded by the Ministry of Health to improve hepatitis C screening, takeover and early access to care, as well as hepatitis B and Delta research projects. He also participates in European and international initiatives with scientific institutions, networks and stakeholders to counter inequalities and prevent cancer through anti-HBV vaccination, early diagnosis and hepatitis C therapy.
– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
