he Vigo Health District Diagnosed with virus Hepatitis C To the twelve people who couldn’t imagine themselves getting this infection, thank you Galicia’s strategy to eliminate the disease as a public health issue.
One of its main measures is large-scale screening of the populationthe test was conducted on People between 40 and 70 years old, because the prevalence is higher in this age group. and take a blood test for any reason unless they specifically say they do not want to participate.
The program was implemented in Galicia at the beginning of this year and is starting to be gradually applied in different health areas.exist Vigo Starting in July, currently 5,700 tests in people with these conditions detected 12 positiveThe infection rate is 0.20%, which is similar to the state rate but higher than Galicia, partly because there is currently less screening here.
This year’s target group is 50-year-olds born between 1963 and 1974. Next year will be a transition period for the population aged 60 to 70 By 2025, the age will reach 40 years.
Before this plan emerged, Diagnosis is made based on suspicion A condition that may occur to a patient or the doctor treating him or her due to changes in risk factors or analysis. Many patients are unaware of these risk factors or do not discuss them spontaneously because the condition still retains a high degree of stigma. On the other hand, the test can have normal results and that’s the end of it. Luis Morano, an infectious disease specialist in Canqueiro, said: One-third of people with active hepatitis C may have normal liver test results If we rely on this result without requiring research, we will lose an important group of infected people.
he filterThat landscape has changed through opportunistic searches for viruses. These tests are conducted on people of the above mentioned age who visit a medical facility to be analyzed for any reason such as cholesterol control, thyroid control and countless examples.PCR performance is activated immediately unless they request not to participate A blood draw to check if you have active hepatitis C.
From the moment of diagnosis, our commitment to these patients is to arrange for them to receive treatment Start treatment within 21 days at most. In Vigo, they follow the rules strictly, as they conduct consultations within 24 to 72 hours of receiving a positive result. “When we call them, they’re surprised because the tests at work or at the health center didn’t show anything, and they’re very grateful because they probably weren’t diagnosed until they had severe liver disease,” Morano said. “
They will use artificial intelligence and big data to find untreated patients
Galicia and Andalusia are among the communities with plans to eliminate hepatitis C, including other measures in addition to screening.in galicia Recommended use of artificial intelligence and big data to target patients diagnosed with hepatitis Cbut there is no evidence that they have received treatment, and patients who have received treatment are also looking for patients. Whether they are cured or not is unknown.
Is a novel tools It is possible because all Galician hospitals, health centers and other health facilities use the same computer tools. Our goal is to leave no one behind.Already now It was pilot tested in the Pontevedra region It turned out that a hundred people had been diagnosed but not receiving treatment.
The third axis of the program is Small Elimination Program for Vulnerable Populations, the cases are relatively concentrated. In this case, screening will take place in addictive behavior units, prison centers or people going to shelters and soup kitchens. For this purpose, tests will be carried out on-site outside the hospital, using saliva or dried blood.
As for Conduct large-scale screening of the population, In Galicia this is also a new thing Sample grouping or merging system, so diagnostics allow us to reach more people in less time. The pool was designed during the pandemic to speed up COVID-19 diagnosis. It is now also used by the Directorate General of Public Health for hepatitis C screening. They’re PCR tests, but they’re not nasal tests for COVID-19, but they’re the tests that have been used on blood samples for years.
The cost of treatment and cure of this disease is 6,500 euros
s arrival New direct-acting antiviral treatment The product, which became available in 2015, eradicates 97 or 98 percent of viruses. The patient has the virus completely eliminated from the body and is no longer a source of new infections.
it is also a short term treatment. These pills need to be taken within 8 to 12 weeks. Another advantage noted by Dr. Luis Morano is that they are very well tolerated, so patients can continue with their normal work and family lives. also, Adverse reactions are almost non-existent, Between 0.5% and 1% of patients have to drop out as a result. “This therapy can cure this disease, and I hope there is a therapy that can treat other viral infections that is short-term and well-tolerated,” he noted.
treat It can be cured for about 6,500 euros. Initially controversial because of its high cost, Prices gradually decrease. To this day, they are still expensive in other countries such as the United States, costing around $70,000.
this Hepatitis C remains a public health challenge Because many people do not know they are infected with the virus, they become chronically ill, have no symptoms, are not treated, and the chain of infection continues. There is a cure, but only a vaccine can eradicate it.
this The main route of infection is the blood route To a lesser extent the sexual route, particularly among men who have sex with men, in Vigo they found an increase in recently acquired acute hepatitis in this population. Now, it’s difficult for someone who takes drugs through a needle exchange program to become infected, but it could be from sharing razors or toothbrushes.