The findings presented in this report will be part of the process of developing a European guidance for HBV and HCV testing and may provide support EU/EEA countries in the development of national guidelines and in the design and scale-up of testing interventions.
On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, ECDC launched online prevalence database for hepatitis B and C which included data mainly based on peer-reviewed cross sectional studies from 2006 onwards.
This document provides EU/EEA Member States with evidence-based scientific advice on available options, when planning and implementing prevention and control interventions for blood-borne viruses in prison settings.
People in prison experience a higher burden of communicable diseases such as hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV often linked to a history of injecting drug use.
This guidance is intended for policymakers responsible for the planning and delivery of healthcare services in the national or sub-national custodial system and all professionals responsible for the health and well-being of people in prison, including community-based service providers and those facilitating continuity of care in the community.
The objective of this report was to systematically review data on prevention and control of BBVs in prison settings, with a focus on the countries of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA).
This joint guidance from ECDC and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction provides EU/EEA Member States with evidence-based scientific advice on active case finding options. These options can be applied to the planning and implementation of interventions that promote the early diagnosis of communicable diseases in prison settings.