Hong Kong expands fight against hepatitis B. But how many hidden cases are there?
Authorities say screening will cover people born in Hong Kong in or before 1988 with family members or sexual partners who carry virus
A government-subsidised screening and treatment programme set to launch next month is expected to identify about 23,000 hidden cases of chronic hepatitis B in Hong Kong, as part of a bigger plan to eliminate the public health threat within five years.
Health authorities said on Monday that the “Hepatitis B Co-care Scheme” would cover people born in Hong Kong in or before 1988 along with first-degree family members – parents, siblings and children – or sexual partners who had already contracted the virus, as they were deemed to be the most at risk.
Commissioner for Primary Healthcare Pang Fei-chau said the scheme aimed to facilitate early detection and intervention efforts, to help reduce the risk of cases developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
“The universal childhood hepatitis B immunisation programme was introduced in 1988 and successfully brought down the infection rate to fewer than 1 per cent among those under 35,” he told a press briefing.
“This time, we wish to cover those not protected by the vaccine.”
Pang said about 300,000 people would be eligible for the screening scheme, which will start on February 7, with fewer than 10 per cent expected to use the service in the first year – a figure that was not considered to be a cap.