Revue Medicale Suisse
Volume 10, Issue 421, 2014, Pages 617-621

Hepatitis B and migrants: Should we do better? [Hépatite B et migrants: Doit-on mieux faire?] (Article)

Jaboyedoff M. , Genton B. , Masserey E. , Bodenmann P. , Rimaz R. , De Vallière S.
  • a Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
  • b Centre de Vaccination et Médecine des Voyages, Switzerland, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • c Service de la Santé Publique du Canton de Vaud, Avenue des Casernes 2, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • d Unité des Populations Vulnérables, Switzerland
  • e Centre de Santé Infirmier, PMU, Switzerland
  • f Centre de Vaccination et Médecine des Voyages, Switzerland

Abstract

More than 5% of the world's population lives with chronic hepatitis B. Migrants, particularly asylum seekers, are mostly from middle and high endemic regions. In Switzerland, however, no systematic screening of chronic hepatitis B is proposed to them. In a resolution published in 2010 the WHO encourages vaccination, but also screening of people at risk, as well as care of infected individuals. On the basis of a study conducted in asylum seekers in the canton of Vaud, prevalence of Ac anti-HBc is estimated at 42% and HBsAg at 8%. Possible screening strategies and care are discussed in the light of these data. Identifying infected migrants would give them access to medical care and therefore lower the rate of complications, as well as the transmission of the virus between migrants and the local population.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

patient care immigrant mass screening human screening Humans Article Hepatitis B, Chronic infection risk world health organization hepatitis B surface antigen virus transmission Transients and Migrants vaccination hepatitis B medical care hepatitis B core antibody Switzerland Health Services Accessibility
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84898417409&partnerID=40&md5=b6efc050614aa2d40336f6ec5c7cb4a1
ISSN: 16609379
Cited by: 1
Original Language: French