Elimination Strategies for Viral Hepatitis in Latin America

Dear Colleagues,

The World Health Organization established the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis in 2016, aiming to reduce liver-related mortality by 65%, increase detection rates to 90%, and reduce new infections to 90% by 2030. To meet these goals, the public health approach to hepatitis must change drastically, giving it a higher priority. Moreover, this strategy addresses all five hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, and E), with a focus on chronic hepatitis B and C due to the relative public health burden, in order to reduce viral hepatitis transmission and ensure that everyone living with viral hepatitis has access to safe, affordable, and effective care and treatment. Countries across the world enthusiastically supported this idea to eliminate viral hepatitis. However, it has become evident since its inception that such tactics will be feasible in countries with economic and infrastructural strength in their national healthcare systems, medical societies, and the culture of the people and members of each country’s medical communities. In contrast, the task will be more difficult for countries with poor and middle-income economies.

Latin America comprises 30 countries with approximately 626 million inhabitants, each with a different economy and healthcare infrastructure. The geographic diversity of Latin America, as well as the genetic and social heterogeneity of its native and admixed populations, has resulted in heterogeneity of the profile of viral hepatitis with high, intermediate, and low endemicity for VHB, VHE, and VHA, as well as co-infections with HIV. Studies related to the epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, and degree of viral hepatitis-related liver disease are scarcely documented. Furthermore, an additional problem was the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has delayed this program’s objectives even further.

This Special Issue is aimed at providing selected contributions on the progress of elimination strategies based on the regional characteristics of the host population and the HBV genotypes that circulate in the countries of Latin America. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Current state of the strategies for elimination of viral hepatitis in countries of Latin America.
• New epidemiological studies of viral hepatitis, either local, regional, or national.
• Qualitative or quantitative analysis related to establishing elimination strategies involving health authorities, civilians, and medical communities.
• Financial and pharmacoeconomic analysis related to antiviral treatments.
• The needs and recommendations for future basic and clinical research in hepatitis viruses in Latin America.
• Studies examining the clinical aspects of managing HBV infection and its natural history based on the host and virus genetics among Latin American populations.
• The role of medical societies and the medical community in eliminating viral hepatitis.
• The role of government and civil society in elimination programs.
• Strategies or experiences in training or awareness campaigns of viral hepatitis among doctors, specialists, and society.
• Access to treatment and coverage of vaccination schemes.

Dr. Arturo Panduro
Guest Editor

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