Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases

Viral hepatitis represents an important health problem in the South Mediterranean countries, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Emerging natural history and epidemiological information reveal differences in the overall epidemiology, risk factors and modes of transmission of viral hepatitis A, B, C, D, E infections in the South Mediterranean region. The differences in the in incidence and prevalence of viral hepatit African countries is attributed to variations in health care and sanitation standards, risk factors and immunization strategies. The active continuous population movement through travel, tourism and migration from and to the South Mediterra the spread of infections due to hepatitis viruses across borders leading to outbreaks and emergence of new patterns of infection or introduction of uncommon genotypes in other countries, particularly in Europe. Introduction: In There are some similarities but also there substantial di€erences between South Mediterranean countries. The epidemiology of viral hepatitis in south Mediterranean countries is dynamic and affected by many factors including hygiene, socioeconomic status a coverage. For example, hepatitis B (HBV) hepatitis C (HCV) viruses 3 have a high tendency to persist and establish chronic hepatitis with long term sequels. HBVand HCVhepatitis is considered the main cause of cirrh hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver transplantation in the region. While HCV related liver disease represents a huge health and economic www.mjhid.org ISSN 2035-3006