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Hepatitis B household contact tracing pilot is under way in two regions.
Summary
The UK Health Security Agency is running a time-limited pilot in North London and the West Midlands to contact people newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B by phone; identified household, family and sexual contacts will be offered a home oral-fluid test kit and assistance to arrange vaccination.
Content
The UK Health Security Agency is running a time-limited pilot to carry out chronic hepatitis B contact tracing directly in two areas. The pilot covers North London and the West Midlands. Staff will phone people newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B to identify close contacts, including household, family and sexual partners. Identified contacts will be offered a home oral-fluid test kit and assistance to arrange vaccination.
Key facts:
- The pilot is limited to North London and the West Midlands and is not nationwide.
- It targets people newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and seeks to reach their close contacts.
- Contact will be made by phone to identify household, family and sexual contacts.
- Close contacts will be offered hepatitis B testing via a home oral-fluid sampling kit.
- The pilot includes support to arrange vaccination for eligible contacts.
- The programme is led by the UKHSA national hepatitis team in collaboration with local clinical hepatology and primary care services.
Summary:
The pilot aims to identify people at potential risk of hepatitis B within households and offer testing and vaccination support. It is time-limited and led by the UKHSA national hepatitis team with local clinical and primary care services. Undetermined at this time.
