Dutch health experts call for wider hepatitis B and C testing
Dutch health experts want wider hepatitis testing and better tracking of care, but their proposals have not been adopted.
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RIVM experts have drawn up a plan to reduce hepatitis B and C infections in the Netherlands, calling for more testing and a central record of diagnoses and treatment. The proposals have not been adopted, according to an ANP report published by Nieuws.nl. [1]
The experts want more people tested if they come from countries where hepatitis remains relatively common. Testing asylum seekers after they arrive is one option, rather than an existing requirement. They also propose a central system to help identify gaps in care. [1]
ANP reports that an estimated 450 to 500 people in the Netherlands die each year from the consequences of hepatitis B and C, while thousands may carry an infection for years without knowing it. The plan updates a national strategy from 2016. According to the new report, some earlier goals remain unmet despite progress, with funding shortages and the coronavirus pandemic among the contributing factors. [1]
The experts also want better information about hepatitis B vaccination. Young children in the Netherlands are vaccinated against the virus, and vaccination is available later in life. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but the disease is usually treatable once an infection is detected. [1]
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