The epidemiology of hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Belgium
| Journal | Volume 68 - 2005 |
| Issue | Fasc.1 - Symposium |
| Author(s) | C. Matheï, G. Robaeys, M. Van Ranst, P. Van Damme, F. Buntinx |
| Full article |
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| (1) Department of General Practice, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; (2) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Belgium ; (3) Department of Virology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium ; (4) Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Belgium ; (5) Department of General Practice, Universiteit Maastricht, the Netherlands. |
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In industrialised countries, injecting drug use is currently the most important risk factor for infection with hepatitis C, resulting in high prevalence rates of hepatitis C among injecting drug users. To contain the hepatitis C epidemic major efforts should be done to prevent new infection among injecting drug users. Monitoring infection rates are crucial as it may provide feedback on the effec- tiveness of interventions. In this article the epidemiology of hepati- tis C among injecting drug users in Belgium is briefly reviewed. More specifically the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies, the prevalence of co-infections, the proportion of chronic HCV carri- ers, the distribution of genotypes and preventive measures among injecting drug users in Belgium are discussed and compared to the situation elsewhere in Western Europe. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2005, 68, 50-54). |
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© Acta Gastro-Enterologica Belgica. |
