Control of hepatitis B in central and eastern Europe (CEE) and the newly independent states (NIS): recommendations of the October 1996 meeting in Siofok, Hungary

The prevention and control of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection constitutes a major health policy priority especially in countries belonging to the CE E and the NIS (the former Soviet Union). Many of these countries report hig h prevalence rates of HBV infection, clinical disease and even high mortali ty. The Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB) jointly organized with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease C ontrol and Prevention (CDC) a meeting to bring together managers of nationa l immunization programs, hepatitis experts and senior officials from minist ries of health. The meeting was held in Siofok, Hungary from 6 to 9 October 1996. The aim of the meeting was to put the prevention of hepatitis B on t he political agenda and to speed up the progress of the countries in centra l and eastern Europe and the Newly independent States towards the implement ation of universal childhood vaccination against hepatitis B. The epidemiol ogy of hepatitis B in the countries concerned was discussed, the different strategies for prevention of hepatitis B reviewed, major elements in priori ty setting elaborated, with emphasis on health economics and strategies for resource mobilization outlined; national and international experts exchang ed views during six workshops (resource mobilization; monitoring and survei llance; vaccines and immunization; vaccine production, quality control and regulation issues; nosocomial transmission and diagnostics). A major outcom e of the meeting was a consensus statement and recommendations for action. These recommendations concerned the countries of the region but also 'partn ers in development' and the WHO, insisting that the international agencies should support technically and financially the hepatitis B prevention effor ts of the countries. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.