HIGH PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS AMONG URBAN AND RURAL-POPULATIONGROUPS IN EGYPT

Hepatitis C is a major health problem for Egypt. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C viru s among different population groups living in urban and in two differe nt rural areas (Suez Canal and North Sinai) of Egypt. Secondary object ives were to study the possible association between multiple blood tra nsfusions, haemodialysis or Schistosomiasis and the seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C. A seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in th e urban blood donor population of 14.5% was found, confirming other re ports. In the two rural areas of the Suez Canal and the North Sinai th e seroprevalence was 14.4% and 15.5% respectively, showing a comparabl e seroprevalence in these three different populations. The seroprevale nce was 70.4% in haemodialysis patients, 7.7% in health care workers, and 75.6% in thalassaemic children, thus a seroprevalence among multit ransfused or haemodialysed patients comparable to the one described in many other countries. Schistosomiasis does not seem to play a role in the seroprevalence of this disease in Egypt.