Hepatitis C in Poland in 2017

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to analyze the epidemiological situation of HCV in Poland in 2017, based on data collected as part of epidemiological surveillance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis was carried out based on: 1) individual data collected as part of epidemiological interviews with persons diagnosed with HCV infection in 2017, 2) diagnosis rate from bulletins “Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland” for the years 2011-2017 and 3) data about deaths due to hepatitis C from the Demographic Surveys and Labour Market Department of the Central Statistical Office. RESULTS: In 2017, the diagnosis rate of HCV infection stayed on high level: 10.44 per 100,000 (4010 cases were reported). Stabilization of hepatitis C epidemiological situation was observed in the following issues: 1) diagnosis rate reported in men and women remained at a similar level (10.55 vs. 10.33 per 100,000); 2) diagnosis rate still showed variation depending on the voivodship (from 4.09 to 18.48 per 100,000) and the location of residence (urban/rural, 12.7 vs. 7.0 per 100,000); 3) the percentage of hospitalization accompanying the new cases of HCV infection has shown downward trend (36% in 2017); 4) the decreasing hepatitis C mortality trend was continued (175 cases of death in 2017); 5) the most common possible transmission route were still medical procedures. In 2017, the outbreak of HCV infection in the Lubelskie was registered. (8 patients, 291 exposed persons, with whom computer tomography with a contrast from multi-dose packaging was conducted, using an automatic injection device). CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological situation of hepatitis C since 2015 is stable. The role of medical care in the transmission of HCV infections in Poland is worrying.