Maryland integrated viral hepatitis surveillance and prevention program - viral hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver due to hepatitis viruses

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major causes of chronic liver disease, which places individuals at risk for liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. There has been increasing reported cases of hepatitis a, acute hepatitis B, and acute hepatitis C viral infections. An integrated approach to coordinate viral hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance activities will accelerate progress towards viral hepatitis elimination. The state of maryland through the department of health, related agencies, and partners have established systems and infrastructures to address the elimination of viral hepatitis and to monitor the disease burden and trends. Maryland department of health through the current CDC-PS17-1702 funding which focuses only on viral hepatitis prevention has established HCV rapid testing programs in 15 out of 23 maryland jurisdictions. This funding proposal will replace CDC-PS17-1702 and also fund activities to enhance surveillance of viral hepatitis a, acute and chronic hepatitis B, acute and chronic hepatitis C, and monitoring of perinatal hepatitis B and hepatitis C transmission. The objectives of this proposal are:1.to develop, implement, and maintain plan to rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks of hepatitis a, acute hepatitis B, and acute hepatitis C2.to improve monitoring of disease burden and trends in hepatitis a, acute hepatitis B, and acute and chronic hepatitis C3.support viral hepatitis elimination planning and maximize access to prevention, testing, linkage to care, and treatment. This proposal will emphasis on two core components: viral hepatitis surveillance activities, and viral hepatitis prevention activities. Implementation of viral hepatitis surveillance activities will focus on developing a state framework for viral hepatitis outbreak planning and response, ensuring timeliness and completeness of VI RAL hepatitis data, and promoting comprehensive viral hepatitis reporting, including negative HCV RNA reporting. The core viral hepatitis prevention activities will focus on sustaining and scaling up access to HBV and HCV testing through various channels identified in the state including high impact settings like syringe services programs. There will also be increased engagement of stakeholders at local and community level to develop and implement the state hepatitis C strategic plan.funds requested will be utilized to support personnel salaries and fringes for surveillance staff, the viral hepatitis prevention coordinator, support for HBV and HCV screening, diagnosis and linkage to care at local health departments and community outreaches.