The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and the World Health Organization’s European Office(WHO Europe) called, in a joint statement issued on Tuesday 3 May for high quality viral hepatitis care for refugees fleeing Ukraine.
Due to the prevalence of hepatitis B and C in Ukraine, the exposure of groups at risk and a lower rate of 3rd dose of childhood hepatitis B vaccine than in the European Union, viral hepatitis is a major public health issue in Ukraine.
For hepatitis A, endemicity is low in urban areas of Ukraine, but medium in rural areas.
The displacement of populations caused by the Russian aggression and possible poor sanitary conditions could contribute to an increase in hepatitis A transmission.
The ECDC, EASL and WHO Europe issue a series of recommendations on three aspects of viral hepatitis management: vaccination, testing, and linkage to local care and treatment.
In addition, the three organisations would like to see these measures integrated into the overall care available in the Member States for people fleeing Ukraine, including through the ‘Decision on temporary protection’ (see EUROPE 12903/35) and other similar measures adopted by third states in the region covered by WHO Europe.
Link to the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/1im (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)