Extremely low hepatitis C prevalence among HIV co-infected individuals in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Loarec A Carnimeo V Molfino L Kizito W Muyindike W Andrieux-Meyer I Balkan S Nzomukunda Y Mwanga-Amumpaire J Ousley J Bygrave H Maman D
AIDS (London, England) 2019 Feb 01; 33(2); 353-355. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002070. Epub 2019 01 20

Abstract

: A multicentric, retrospective case-series analysis (facility-based) in five sites across Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, and Uganda screened HIV-positive adults for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies using Oraquick rapid testing and viral confirmation (in three sites). The results reveal a substantially lower prevalence than previously reported for these countries, suggesting that targeted integration of HCV screening in African HIV programs may be more impactful than routine screening.