2. What is HCV?
• liver disease.
• Can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks
to a serious, lifelong condition that can lead to
cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.
• About 150 million people are chronically infected
with hepatitis C virus every year.
• More than 350 000 people die every year
• Hepatitis C can be treated using antiviral
medicines.
• No vaccine for hepatitis C.
3. Spreading by BLOOD
1. A person is bleeding
2. A medical or dental person or assistant uses an
instrument or a medical or dental equipment
that was used for another patient
3. Injections
4. Medical and dental procedures
5. Sticking your finger for blood
6. Multi-dose vials
7. injection drug use
8. being born to a hepatitis C-infected mother
6. Status in Egypt
is a public health EMERGENCY
• 14.7% of the population in Egypt is 11,466,000
persons who have been infected with this
virus. (does not include the number of people
who have been infected that are under 15
years of age or over 60 years of age).
• 6/1000 new infections each year.
• 70,000 of them are children.
7.
8. • The most common exposure to HCV infection
in Egypt is from formal and informal medical
and dental care.
9. • Injections of all kinds, blood tests or when
blood is taken by syringe or by a lancet.
A lancet is a small very sharp blade used to stick
a finger for example to get blood for testing
blood type.
10. How to Stay SAFE?
• Do not share your personal stuff:
razors, tooth brushes, or cosmetic care
equipment with people around you.
Other examples that can cause infection is
when diabetic people share their blood sugar
monitoring equipment.
11. • Try not to use Drugs in Multi Dose Vials:
Many drugs are in small glass bottles called
Vials. Infection from contaminated multi-dose
drug vials
• Go find doctors and dentists who take
precautions to prevent HCV.
12. Ask. . . ?
Is this medical or dental care
I am going to get, is it safe?
Could I get virus C infection
from this medical or dental
care?
14. Reducing Exposure
• The reduction of HCV transmission will require
a reduction in exposure to infection.
• Reducing exposure will require that all
persons working in the health care sector
including dental care, nursing,
pharmaceuticals and all those who are
assisting these professional will need to
improve infection control and practice safe
injection procedures and aseptic technique.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. The disease can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus is transmitted through contact with the blood of an infected person. About 150 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus, and more than 350 000 people die every year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases. Hepatitis C can be treated using antiviral medicines. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C; however, research in this area is ongoing.
14.7% of the population in Egypt (0.147 X 78 million) is 11,466,000 persons who have been infected with this virus. This number is an underestimate because it does not include the number of people who have been infected that are under 15 years of age or over 60 years of age. 6/1000 new infections each year. In terms of absolute numbers of people in Egypt getting infected this over 500,000 individuals. 70,000 of them are children. This is a public health emergency. Transmission of HCV from person to person in Egypt is of course continuing
HCV is transmitted from one infected person to another uninfected person by blood from the infected person. This means that an uninfected person has to be EXPOSED to blood from an infected person. There are many ways this exposure can occur. The most common exposure to HCV infection in Egypt is from formal and informal medical and dental care . For example, injections of all kinds, blood tests or when blood is taken by syringe or by a lancet. A lancet is a small very sharp blade used to stick a finger for example to get blood for testing blood type. There are many proceedures and treatments that are percutaneous (means through the skin) or cause bleeding. If the person doing this is not using sterile equipment or materials or may be has not changed their latex gloves, you could be exposed to HCV infection .
1 - The date of 28 July was chosen for World Hepatitis Day in honour of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus .
