Feature

Egypt has Highest Prevalence of Hepatitis C in the World: WHO

Egypt has Highest Prevalence of Hepatitis C in the World: WHO

Roughly 15 million Egyptians suffer from the deadly Hepatitis C virus
Roughly 15 million Egyptians currently suffer from the deadly Hepatitis C virus

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has found that Egypt has the highest prevalence of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world, with approximately 22 percent of Egyptian blood donors testing positive for the deadly disease.

According to HCV Advocate, the main cause of exposure in Egypt appears to be due to inadequate infection control practices and injection therapy such as blood transfusions.

Lacking in infrastructure to deal with the virus, Egypt suffers from a particularly high morbidity and mortality rate, with 40,000 dying from the disease each year. It is estimated that roughly 15 million Egyptians currently suffer from Hepatitis C. Every year there are 170,000 to 200,000 new HCV cases.

In response to the epidemic, Egypt has opened its first factory for the local production of “Sofosbuvir” – a drug that contains the active ingredient in “Sovaldi”, the US approved medication commonly used to cure the virus.

Pharmed Healthcare – a joint venture between Indian, UAE and Egyptian partners – is overseeing the factory opening, which took place on Sunday. The company successfully obtained a license from American firm Gilead Sciences to manufacture and market the drug in Egypt. The CEO of Pharmed Healthcare, Muhammad Mabrouk, says that the medication will be available in Egypt from June of this year.

Last year, the health ministry secured a deal with Gilead Sciences to import the drug for $US 900, a 99 percent discount compared to the US cost of $US 84,000 for a three-month treatment.

Egyptian health minister Adel el-Adawi, who attended the factory opening, reassured that the ministry is working to lower the prevalence of the virus by raising awareness and treatment.

Surveillance Cameras to be Deployed Nationwide in Egypt
Two Gunmen Shot Dead at “Draw Muhammad” Event in Texas

Subscribe to our newsletter


Feature
@daliaeldaba

Dalia is an Egyptian writer and journalist. Currently, she is particularly interested in raising awareness about the historical and current labour and feminist movements in the Arab world.

More in Feature

The Egyptian Film-Maker Bringing Down the Patriarchy with Satire

Dina Khadr29 May 2023

‘Brawl at the Stadium’ Epitomizes Growing Skateboarding Scene in Egypt

Omar Auf28 May 2023

The Egyptian Astrophysicist Shattering the Glass Ceiling to Observe the Stars

Dina Khadr18 May 2023

Humility in Leadership: Egyptian Women and Online Thought Leadership

Mirna Abdulaal11 May 2023

Global Company, Local Identity: How Pfizer Centers Patients and Healthcare Professionals in Egypt

Mirna Abdulaal30 April 2023

NaTakallam: The Language-Learning Platform Shifting the Narrative Around Refugees

Dina Khadr24 April 2023

Dealing with Body Shaming During the Holidays: An Eating Disorder Specialists’ Guide

Farah Rafik17 April 2023

Demanding Fairness: Towards Better Conditions for Egypt’s Digital Platform Workers

Amina Abdel-Halim2 April 2023