title: Burden and prevention of viral hepatitis in Bulgaria.
abstract: A meeting of the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board in Sofia, Bulgaria on 24-25 March 2011 reviewed the burden and prevention of viral hepatitis in the country. It examined the organization and funding of the health system, the surveillance systems for infectious diseases, and the epidemiology of viral hepatitis, especially the impact of the universal neonatal hepatitis B immunization programme introduced almost 20 years ago. It also looked at the implementation of new prevention strategies, such as the health mediator concept, as well as control measures and monitoring systems. Participants discussed the successes, the way forward and possible obstacles.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fitzsimons
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kojouharova
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hallauer
authors.forename: Greet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hendrickx
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vorsters
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Damme
mesh_terms: D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods