FEATURES OF THE EPIDEMIC PROCESS OF HEPATITIS B IN UKRAINE DURING THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC AND THE STATE OF MARTIAL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2727.2024.2.14609Keywords:
hepatitis B, dynamics of incidence of acute and chronic hepatitis B, ways and factors of HBV transmission, vaccination against hepatitis B, HBV, HBsAgAbstract
SUMMARY. Hepatitis B remains a serious global medico-social problem. The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted positive developments in the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy to combat viral hepatitis due to delays in screening, diagnosis, initiation of patient treatment, etc. In Ukraine, the crisis of COVID-19 was exacerbated by the crisis of martial law. In 2020–2021, the number of registered hepatitis B cases in Ukraine decreased significantly compared to 2015–2019, more pronounced for chronic hepatitis B. Starting from 2022, despite the war and incomplete reporting, the incidence began to rise moderately, and in 2023 for chronic infection approached the «pre-COVID» level. In 2022–2023, an increase in the incidence of acute hepatitis B was observed among children under 1 year, 1–4, and 5–9 years, that is, those who should be protected by vaccination. The coverage level of vaccination against hepatitis B in Ukraine is unsatisfactory – during 2015–2023, it was 25.4–79.8 %, which is significantly lower than the WHO recommendation, and coverage rates differ significantly by region of Ukraine (58.0–98.9 % in 2023). On average, out of 6 people with HBsAg detected during diagnostic examination, only 1 made it to official registration and, probably, to medical observation. Growth in the dynamics of 2020–2022 in the frequency of detection of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) marker, namely HBsAg, among children born to HBsAg-carrier mothers, children of the 1st year of life – recipients of blood and its components, patients with venereal diseases, patients of drug dispensaries, those who are in hospital treatment for a long time, children of orphanages and special boarding schools should be considered from the standpoint of the risks of implementing natural and artificial ways of HBV transmission. The epidemic situation of hepatitis B, which is classified as an infection relevant during the war, in Ukraine remains tense, quantitatively underestimated, with a tendency to worsen.
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