Fighting Hepatitis B in North Korea: Feasibility of a Bi-modal Prevention Strategy

Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-138773
  • In North Korea, the prevalence of hepatitis B is high due to natural factors, gaps in vaccination, and the lack of antiviral treatment. Aid projects are urgently needed, however impeded by North Korea's political and economical situation and isolation. The feasibility of a joint North Korean and German humanitarian hepatitis B prevention program was assessed. Part 1: Hepatitis B vaccination catch-up campaign. Part 2: Implementation of endoscopic ligation of esophageal varices (EVL) by trainings in Germany and North Korea. By vaccinating 7In North Korea, the prevalence of hepatitis B is high due to natural factors, gaps in vaccination, and the lack of antiviral treatment. Aid projects are urgently needed, however impeded by North Korea's political and economical situation and isolation. The feasibility of a joint North Korean and German humanitarian hepatitis B prevention program was assessed. Part 1: Hepatitis B vaccination catch-up campaign. Part 2: Implementation of endoscopic ligation of esophageal varices (EVL) by trainings in Germany and North Korea. By vaccinating 7 million children between 2010 and 2012, the hepatitis B vaccination gap was closed. Coverage of 99.23% was reached. A total of 11 hepatitis B-induced liver cirrhosis patients (mean age 41.1 yr) with severe esophageal varices and previous bleedings were successfully treated by EVL without major complications. A clinical standard operating procedure, a feedback system and a follow-up plan were developed. The bi-modal preventive strategy was implemented successfully. Parts of the project can serve as an example for other low-income countries, however its general transferability is limited due to the special circumstances in North Korea.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author: Markus Unnewehr, August Stich
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-138773
Document Type:Journal article
Faculties:Medizinische Fakultät
Language:English
Parent Title (English):Journal of Korean Medical Science
Year of Completion:2015
Volume:30
Pagenumber:1584-1588
Source:Journal of Korean Medical Science 2015; 30: 1584-1588. doi:10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1584
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.11.1584
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 614 Inzidenz und Prävention von Krankheiten
Tag:Democratic People's Republic of Korea; cirrhosis; diagnosis; esophagoscopy; health; hepatitis B; infection; ligation; mass vaccination; primary prophylaxis; therapy
Release Date:2016/11/03
Licence (German):License LogoCC BY-NC: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung, Nicht kommerziell