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Published on: September 25, 2019
When will South Africa take the prevention of chronic HBV infection seriously?
T G Maponga1, M I Andersson2, W Preiser1
1Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg Business Unit, Cape Town, South Africa.
Abstract:
South Africa (SA) bears a significant burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, with a significant prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among pregnant women. In response, the National Department of Health has recommended targeted birth-dose vaccination for infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers. While we commend the move towards antenatal HBsAg screening to identify infected pregnant women, we reiterate that a universal HBV birth-dose vaccination strategy would be a simpler, more equitable and more effective approach to preventing vertical transmission and reducing the overall HBV burden in SA.
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