[Hepatitis C in Egypt, a iatrogenic epidemy].
Between 1918 and 1982, millions of patients suffering from bilharzia (infection by Schistosoma mansoni) in Egypt were treated with a series of injections with potassium-antimony tartrate. During large campaigns, aimed at the eradication of the parasite, syringes and needles were re-used without being properly sterilized. This has led to a wide spread of the hepatitis C virus, by which the prevalence of hepatitis C in Egypt is now the highest in the world. The results of this iatrogene epidemic will be devastating.
Barnard
H
H
UCLA-NELC 90.025-1511, USA. wendrich@barnard.nl
D002353:Carrier State; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004203:Disinfection; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D009339:Needles; D015995:Prevalence; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*