MARCH/APRIL 2020: VOL 44 Voice hep Your magazine from the World Hepatitis Alliance New partnership to eliminate hepatitis C in London kicks off COVID-19 message from WHA President WALL OF STORIES “Get tested. Take treatment if you need it and live a full life!” Contents Stay connected note from our ceo www.worldhepatitisalliance.org Regulars Welcome to the March/April edition of hepVoice. [email protected] I hope that you and your loved ones are coping 4 hepHeadlines www.facebook.com/worldhepalliance with the COVID-19 pandemic which has swept across the globe in recent months. 7 Dates for the diary @Hep_Alliance The pandemic is unprecedented in our lifetimes. I Features @worldhepatitisalliance know it is a worrying time and we must all stand together. I want to reassure you that WHA will do everything it can to support our members and 8 COVID-19 message from the global hepatitis community. You can read our WHA President Su Wang president, Su Wang’s, message to our members and hepatitis community colleagues on page 10 New partnership to Want to contribute? eight. eliminate hepatitis C We welcome your contributions so in London kicks off Hepatitis elimination efforts have continued even please get in touch at in these challenging times. A new partnership to 13 Find the Missing Millions: contact@worldhepatitisalliance. eliminate hepatitis C in London kicked off at the inspiration from India org to have your news and stories beginning of March (see page 10). The US has also included in future issues and feel announced new screening recommendations that 16 WHA welcomes five new free to share this magazine urge the testing of all adults in the country for members with your network. hepatitis C (see page four). Don’t 18 APASL 2020 — a success miss out There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic - receive will have a ripple effect that will continue to 20 Wall of Stories: Arman hepVoice impact all of our lives for some time. Together, straight we will continue our fight for hepatitis elimination to your regardless of the circumstances. Out now: inbox! I look forward to keeping up with your work, and World Hepatitis taking inspiration from your resolve Day 2019 in challenging times. Summary Report Click here to read Cary James 2 hep Voice MARCH/APRIL 2020 hep Voice MARCH/APRIL 2020 3 Preventive Service chronic hepatitis B needed for the repair TaskForce, said: “Some infection. process. Removing headlines people may not be even one of the factors aware of their risk or When the hepatitis prevented successful hep they may not want B virus first enters completion of the Hepatitis is regularly making the news thanks to the efforts of to disclose it to you, its host’s liver cells, repair, suggesting WHA members. Here are a few highlights. so the way to capture its DNA genome has that targeting any of more people is to several gaps and the five factors can screen everyone. It imperfections that potentially prevent New US guidelines 44,700 new hepatitis called “baby boomer” also helps reduce must be repaired hepatitis B infection. call for most adults C cases were reported generation), but the stigma.” before the virus to be screened for in the United States by expanding the can establish itself The researchers plan hepatitis C in 2017. The majority recommendation to Read more. permanently inside to investigate further of people living include all adults liver cells. To repair to find out exactly A national panel of with hepatitis C aged 18 – 79, health Researchers discover itself, the hepatitis how the five identified health experts in remain unaware of officials hope they proteins vital for B virus uses the DNA repair factors work the United States of their condition, and will be able to hepatitis B infection repair machinery of its together to fix the America has released those most at risk of increase diagnosis host cell, but the exact hepatitis B virus’s new guidelines calling contracting the virus rates and better link components it needs to genome. for most adults in may be the least likely people to care and use for the repair had the country to be to seek testing or curative treatment. not been identified. Ploss said: “Our screened for hepatitis treatment. Importantly, adopting study is an excellent C. The U.S. Preventive a “test all” approach Researchers Alexander starting point to Services Task Force’s Previous U.S. guidelines may help to reduce Ploss, associate finally answer the new guidelines recommended stigma. professor of molecular decades-old question have been issued in testing for adults Researchers have biology at Princeton of how the stable response to an almost born between 1945 Dr Douglas K. Owens, identified five factors University, USA, and form of the virus’s fourfold increase in the and 1965 (the so- chair of the U.S. and proteins that postdoctoral fellow Lei DNA is generated. number of hepatitis the hepatitis B virus Wei tested dozens of Until we understand C cases in the United (HBV) needs for DNA repair factors in the process, which States, which have replication of its DNA, a lab experiment in an is crucial for HBV been attributed to an providing new insight attempt to identify the persistence, targeted increase in opioid and into the disease. components required clinical therapies that injection drug use over The researchers are for the hepatitis B virus can completely clear the last decade. hopeful that their to repair itself. They the infection will discovery could lead discovered that a set of remain out of reach.” According to federal to the development of just five factors purified data, approximately new therapies to treat from human cells was Read more 4 hep Voice MARCH/APRIL 2020 hep Voice MARCH/APRIL 2020 5 Participating in a hepatitis related activity or have an event planned? Email us on [email protected] or contact us on social media. Large investment be treated each year. C infections to WHO needed to eliminate The estimated US$3.9 elimination levels will hepatitis C in Pakistan billion cost equates be substantial, but could deliver huge to approximately nine equally so are the Dates for the Diary health benefits per cent of Pakistan’s benefits to patients and Upcoming events and activities taking place in the current health the community.” coming months. A new study has expenditure or an revealed that a large Dr Huma Qureshi, investment of US$1.50 7 april investment of at least per person per year. national lead for the US$3.9 billion is needed prevention and control World Health Day to eliminate hepatitis Through making of viral hepatitis in World Health Day 2020 will focus on the vital role played by nurses and midwives in providing health care around the world. Nurses and midwives can C in Pakistan, but that this investment and Pakistan and former play a key role in preventing and treating viral hepatitis, Celebrate their immense the intervention could achieving WHO’s executive director of contribution to eliminating viral hepatitis using #WorldHealthDay deliver huge benefits elimination targets, the Pakistan Health and #SupportNursesAndMidwives, and find out more on the in terms of lives saved Pakistan could prevent Research Council, World Health Organization website. and reduced ill health. 5.8 million new added: “Alongside hepatitis C infections screening and april The collaborative and 390,000 hepatitis treatment, we also 23 - 30 study revealed that, to C-related deaths need to raise public World Immunization Week The theme of this year’s World Immunization Week is #VaccinesWork for all, and achieve elimination by by 2030. awareness on viral the campaign will focus on how vaccines – and the people who develop, deliver 2030 in line with World hepatitis and educate Health Organization Dr Saeed Hamid, and receive them – are heroes by working to protect the health of everyone, people on the risk everywhere. The hepatitis B vaccination developed by Dr Baruch Blumberg was (WHO) targets, professor and factors and how the world’s first-ever “cancer vaccine” and is thought to have prevented more approximately 36 department chair of hepatitis can be spread. cancer-related deaths than any other intervention in medical history. Despite the million people would medicine at Aga Khan These prevention efforts availability of this life-saving vaccine, millions of children worldwide still miss need to be screened or University in Karachi, can help speed up our out on its protection. During World Immunization Week, celebrate the work of Dr re-screened annually, said: “The amount of elimination efforts.” Blumberg and call for improved access to the hepatitis B vaccine. and about 660,000 investment needed to people would need to reduce new hepatitis Read more. 10- 12 SEPTEMBER Conference on Liver Disease in Africa (COLDA) 2020 Organised by Virology Education in close collaboration with local societies, COLDA 2020 aims at empowering African healthcare professionals to diagnose, prevent, treat and achieve a cure for liver diseases for the benefit of patients in Africa. Virology Education continue their goal to create a platform that provides a unique opportunity for clinicians, researchers, policymakers, industry representatives, and other healthcare professionals in the African region. Together with support from an international community of experts, attendees at the third COLDA will exchange knowledge on the latest clinical developments and updates on ongoing and new trials related to liver disease. Find out more on Virology Education’s website. 6 hep Voice MARCH/APRIL 2020 hep Voice MARCH/APRIL 2020 7 COVID-19 message from Su Wang, World Hepatitis Alliance President Dear Colleagues, “I know that our members are creative and As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) resourceful, and your work will inspire others pandemic spreads across the globe, it is affecting all of our lives.