Progress Toward the Elimination of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in the Country of Georgia, April 2015–April 2024
Rania A. Tohme, Shaun Shadaker, Ekaterine Adamia, Irma Khonelidze, Ketevan Stvilia, Vladimer Getia, Maia Tsereteli, Maia Alkhazashvili, Akaki Abutidze, Maia Butsashvili, Maka Gogia, Nancy Glass, Sophia Surguladze, Irina Tskhomelidze Schumacher, Tamar Gabunia
Abstract
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are leading causes of cirrhosis and liver cancer and caused 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2022. Hepatitis B is preventable with vaccination, and hepatitis C is curable with direct-acting antivirals. In 2015, in collaboration with CDC and other partners, Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, launched a hepatitis C elimination program to reduce the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C; at that time, the prevalence was 5.4%, more than five times the global average of 1.0%. In 2016, the World Health Assembly endorsed a goal for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health problem by 2030. In 2024, 89% of the Georgian adult population have received screening for hepatitis C, 83% of persons with current chronic HCV infection have received a diagnosis, and 86% of those with diagnosed hepatitis C have started treatment. During 2015-2023, vaccination coverage with the hepatitis B birth dose and with 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine among infants exceeded 90% for most years. In 2021, the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen was 0.03% among children and adolescents aged 5-17 years and 2.7% among adults. Georgia has demonstrated substantial progress toward hepatitis B and hepatitis C elimination. Using lessons from the hepatitis C elimination program, scale-up of screening and treatment for hepatitis B among adults would prevent further viral hepatitis-associated morbidity and mortality in Georgia and would accelerate progress toward hepatitis B and hepatitis C elimination by 2030.