REVIEW: EPIDEMIC STATUS OF HCV IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Society faces an immense burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-related morbidity and mortality. Transmission of HCV is ongoing, and the incidence of HCV infection has been increasing in recent years. In Pakistan, hepatitis C virus (HCV) distribution appears to present a wide range of prevalence. The scale and nature of HCV disease burden is poorly known in Balochistan and Azad Kashmir. The aim of this review is to provide a systematic overview of HCV prevalence in different regions of Pakistan. Linkage to care and treatment for those identified with infection through testing would have a profound impact in reducing HCV disease burden The results highlight the need for more robust surveillance studies to quantify the HCV disease burden more accurately.