WCMC-Q Holds Lecture on Impact of Hepatitis C Virus on MENA Region

Doha, June 30 (QNA) - The impact of the hepatitis C virus on the MENA region was discussed in the latest installment of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar's (WCMC-Q) Grand Rounds. Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad, Associate Professor of Public Health at WCMC-Q, described the historical spread of hepatitis C in the Middle East and North Africa and discussed the latest therapies and public health efforts aimed at controlling the debilitating virus. He pointed out that infection rates are relatively low in the Gulf region and in Qatar 1.1 percent of the population have the virus. The Grand Rounds, developed by WCMC-Q's Division of Continuing Professional Development, provides a platform for expert speakers to engage with healthcare professionals in the community to disseminate knowledge of the latest developments in medical technology, research and best practice. Speaking at WCMC-Q to an audience of physicians, researchers, students and healthcare professionals, Dr. Abu-Raddad explained: "The disease burden of viral hepatitis worldwide is comparable to other serious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. "It is one of the important threats to global health, and the Middle East and North Africa has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus of any region in the world." Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that is most commonly spread by the use of inadequately sterilized medical equipment, transfusions of contaminated blood and by unsafe practices such as sharing needles/syringes. The virus can also be transmitted from mothers to their children during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Dr. Abu-Raddad said the hepatitis C disease burden is growing but that new hope emerged just over a year ago when the world's first truly effective hepatitis C drug was launched. (QNA)