The status of hepatitis C virus infection among people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa.
Sarwat MahmudGhina R MumtazHiam ChemaitellyZaina Al KanaaniSilva P KouyoumjianJoumana G HermezLaith Jamal Abu-RaddadPublished in: Addiction (Abingdon, England) (2020)
Half of people who inject drugs in the Middle East and North Africa appear to have ever been infected with hepatitis C virus, but there are large variations in antibody prevalence among countries. In addition to > 200 000 chronically infected current people who inject drugs, there is an unknown number of people who no longer inject drugs who may have acquired hepatitis C virus during past injecting drug use. Harm reduction services must be expanded, and innovative strategies need to be employed to ensure accessibility to hepatitis C virus testing and treatment.