Hepatitis B and C public health screening efforts

Public health initiatives in Spain and England are utilizing emergency department screening to combat hepatitis B and C infections.

In Girona, Spain, a study at Hospital Universitari Dr. Josep Trueta and Hospital Santa Caterina found that screening 2,000 adults in emergency departments revealed hepatitis C and B rates three to four times higher than the general Spanish population. The study noted that automatic inclusion of these tests in emergency blood panels increased diagnostic coverage eightfold, aiding efforts to reach vulnerable groups and support Spain’s goal of eradicating these infections by 2030.

In England, the NHS has treated over 100,000 people since the 2015 rollout of antiviral drugs, aiming to become one of the first countries to eliminate hepatitis C. Deaths associated with the virus have decreased by 36% over the last decade, and the NHS has surpassed the World Health Organization benchmark for treating known cases. To identify undiagnosed individuals, the NHS has implemented testing in A&E departments and during GP registrations, while also providing free home-testing kits for high-risk groups.