Epidemiology of hepatitis C in the Middle East

Abstract

The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is not well defined in the Middle East region. A review of the epidemiology and modes of transmission and spread of HCV infection in regions located in the Middle East, including Iran, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, Sudan, Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Gaza Strip and West Bank, and Yemen, was undertaken. Public health strategies, well-programmed, population-based and certain HCV infection at-risk surveys, and transmission risk factors' settings detection are insufficient in some countries of this region. Since significant differences in prevalence and epidemiology of HCV exist among the Middle East countries or even inside the countries, control strategies should take these differences into account.