The scope of this project was to provide an overview of different effective testing strategies for hepatitis B and C and their outcomes in the EU/EEA, covering all relevant population groups and settings.
The ECDC guidance on integrated testing of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV supports countries in the global effort to combat viral hepatitis and eliminate HIV as public health threats by 2030. At present, reaching and testing those at risk of infection with HIV, HBV or HCV is still a public health challenge across Europe. This Guidance in brief is based on the comprehensive guidance document which provides the evidence base for this guidance
This guidance aims to provide EU/EEA countries with an evidence-based framework to help develop, implement, monitor and evaluate their own national HBV, HCV and HIV testing guidelines and programmes.
For 2016, EU/EEA countries reported three cases of Lassa fever. Germany reported two cases, and Sweden reported one case. These were the first Lassa fever cases reported by EU/EEA countries since 2009 when two cases were reported by the United Kingdom.
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.