“Hepatitis B is the deadliest disease that can be prevented through infant vaccination,” said Dr. John Ward, director, CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis, during his visit to the HBF with Mr. Dan Riedford, deputy director, on January 25. Dr. Ward further proposed that a “zero tolerance” policy towards new HBV infections should be adopted, just as there is with HIV. With a good vaccine and clear guidelines, no baby born today in the U.S. – nor anyone for that matter – should be at risk for infection with HBV.
In addition, new infections could be prevented through better care of those already infected. Current perinatal programs focus on protecting newborns from infection and treat the HBV-positive pregnant woman as a mere “vessel of disease,” according to Dr. Ward. This is an enormous missed opportunity. Infected pregnant women should be educated about their disease and referred to appropriate medical care – to protect themselves from serious disease and to prevent new infections among their close contacts.
Although great success has been achieved in the prevention of hepatitis B – particularly among infants and children up to18 years – there remain missed opportunities in preventing new infections and significant gaps in access to care for those affected. Both Dr. Ward and Mr. Riedford confirmed that access to care is an important new priority for CDC in light of good treatment options for chronic HBV.
Increased funding, however, is critical to building the CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis’s capacity. With more funds, they could strengthen national surveillance of chronic HBV infections to identify the true burden of disease; expand the viral hepatitis prevention network to include education and referral to care services; and provide targeted education to providers to raise awareness about the importance of screening and management of chronic HBV.
Photo:CDC Visits HBF Left to right: Dr. John Ward, CDC director DVH; Dr. Baruch Blumberg, Nobel laureate and HBF Distinguished Scholar; Mr. Dan Riedford, CDC deputy director DVH; and Dr. Tom London, Fox Chase Cancer Center and HBF board member (Jan. 25, 2008)
