How to control highly endemic hepatitis B in Asia

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an enormous economic and social burden. Asian countries such as Vietnam, Mongolia, Laos, China, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore and Cambodia have high or high-intermediate HBsAg prevalence. Most of the chronic HBV carriers in this region acquire their infection during early childhood or through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). Asia has been highly successful in controlling HBV in the last 2 decades. For example, China has adopted a comprehensive strategy to control HBV and has offered universal HBV vaccination to infants since 1992. With increasing coverage and a timely birth dose of the HBV vaccine, the prevalence of HBsAg in that general population decreased from 9.75% in 1992 to 7.18% in 2006. The prevalence of HBsAg in the population <30 years old decreased from 10.1% in 1992 to 2.6% in 2014. In addition, passive and active immunization has been increased and has successfully interrupted MTCT in recent years. Recent studies in China show that maternal antiviral therapy in the late trimesters of pregnancy could further reduce MTCT in mothers with a high viral load. First-line treatments such as entecavir and tenofovir as well as pegylated interferon alpha are recommended in Chinese guidelines and are on the Basic Medical Insurance reimbursement list. Increased awareness, access to and affordability of antiviral therapy will reduce HBV-related morbidity and mortality. The combined efforts of the government, the medical community, industry, civil society and the public should eliminate hepatitis B as a public threat by 2030.

Keywords: Asia; China; control; hepatitis B virus; prevention; vaccine.