Journal of Infection and Public Health最新文献

{"title":"Circular genome of human bocavirus 1 associated with high load of viral DNA, positive antigen and increased risk of severe pneumonia in children","authors":"Kexiang Zhang ,&nbsp;Ri De ,&nbsp;Zeng Li ,&nbsp;Yanpeng Xu ,&nbsp;Zhenzhi Han ,&nbsp;Runan Zhu ,&nbsp;Yu Sun ,&nbsp;Liping Jia ,&nbsp;Dongmei Chen ,&nbsp;Yutong Zhou ,&nbsp;Qi Guo ,&nbsp;Yao Yao ,&nbsp;Xiaolin Ma ,&nbsp;Shuang Liu ,&nbsp;Chunmei Zhu ,&nbsp;Dong Qu ,&nbsp;Linqing Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103156","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103156","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) causes acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children, but its diagnosis is complicated by prolonged viral shedding. There are indications that the detection of a circular genome in a clinical specimens may be associated with acute infection.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Respiratory specimens collected from pediatric patients with ARIs during January 2021 to July 2024 were screened by a duplex qPCR, which was developed to distinguish circular genome from total viral genomes and evaluated by nested PCR and antigen test. Clinical data were collected from patients with single HBoV1 infection to reveal the association of circular genome with ARIs and the severity of pneumonia.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among 520 specimens positive for HBoV1 DNA, 206 (39.61 %) were positive for circular genomes as determined by duplex qPCR, with the median load of total genomes 10^10.08 (IQR 10^9.26, 10^10.62) copies/mL significantly higher than 10^7.81 (IQR 10^6.88, 10^8.60) copies/mL in the circular genome negative group (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.0001). In the antigen-positive group, the positive rate for circular genomes was 78.57 % (44/56), significantly higher than 34.29 % (108/315) observed in the antigen-negative group. Among patients single positive for HBoV1, the circular genome-positive group (n = 106) showed more severe clinical manifestations and required more intensive treatment. Logistic regression analysis identified the circular genome as a strong independent risk factor for severe pneumonia (OR = 6.38, AUC = 0.82).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Circular genome of HBoV1 associated with high load of viral DNA, positive antigen and severe pneumonia in children may serve as a biomarker for acute HBoV1 infection and severe pneumonia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103156"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Digital twin of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: Integrating immune dynamics and pathogen adaptation for precision therapy","authors":"Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui ,&nbsp;Naveed Ahmed Khan","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103154","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103154","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> remains one of the world’s most persistent pathogens, responsible for over a million deaths each year despite effective drugs and decades of research. Disease progression varies widely among individuals, reflecting interactions between pathogen, physiology, host immunity, and pharmacological response. We propose a digital twin framework for tuberculosis that integrates clinical, immunological, and pharmacokinetic data into a continuously adaptive computational model. The twin would simulate host-pathogen dynamics from granuloma formation to systemic immune regulation, linking these processes with individualised drug exposure and treatment response. By forecasting outcomes and identifying early indicators of relapse or resistance, such a system could guide precision therapy and accelerate discovery of host-directed interventions. The tuberculosis digital twin thus represents a bridge between infection biology, computation, and clinical translation, presenting an evolving model capable of transforming how this ancient disease is understood and managed. However, translation will require further longitudinal clinical and immunological datasets and systematic validation of model predictions in real-world treatment settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103154"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146131392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of changes in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in predicting COVID-19 severity and mortality: A biomarker analysis","authors":"Seyed Hassan Saadat ,&nbsp;Behzad Einollahi ,&nbsp;Hadi Norouzi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Farjami ,&nbsp;Nematollah Jonaidi Jafari ,&nbsp;Shahla Afsharpeyman ,&nbsp;Fahime Shahjooie ,&nbsp;Ali Bahrami Far ,&nbsp;Kiavash Hushmandi","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) has emerged as a potential biomarker for COVID-19 severity, but the diagnostic value of its dynamic changes (ΔLDH) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of ΔLDH for clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We performed a retrospective cohort study of 5635 adults with confirmed COVID-19, analyzing LDH measurements. The patients were stratified by ΔLDH quartiles (Q1-Q4). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the associations with mortality and ICU admission, while ROC analysis was used to determine the predictive performance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A U-shaped relationship was observed, with both extreme reductions (Q1: ΔLDH ≤ -196 U/L) and elevations (Q4: ΔLDH ≥ 108 U/L) predicting adverse outcomes. Q4 patients had a higher risk of mortality (aOR = 6.72, 95 % CI: 5.31–8.51) and a higher risk of ICU admission (aOR = 6.63, 95 % CI: 5.26–8.36) compared to Q1. ΔLDH revealed excellent discrimination for mortality (AUC = 0.78) with an optimal cutoff at 181.5 U/L (sensitivity = 66.7 %, specificity = 88.9 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ΔLDH is a powerful, independent predictor of COVID-19 severity, revealing a novel U-shaped risk pattern. The 181.5 U/L threshold offers clinically actionable guidance for risk stratification. These findings support the incorporation of serial LDH monitoring into COVID-19 management protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103153"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146156772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A structured-data algorithm for semiautomated surveillance of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery: A diagnostic accuracy study","authors":"Daniel Casanova-Portoles ,&nbsp;Josep M. Badia ,&nbsp;Carlos G. Forero ,&nbsp;Néstor Sánchez-Martínez ,&nbsp;Manel Romero ,&nbsp;Toni Alonso-Solís ,&nbsp;Enric Limón ,&nbsp;Miquel Pujol ,&nbsp;Joan Sancho","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Manual surveillance of surgical site infections (SSIs) after colorectal surgery is resource-intensive, limiting scalability. Semiautomated algorithms based on structured electronic health record (EHR) data may maintain high case-finding sensitivity while reducing workload.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective diagnostic-accuracy study was conducted in a teaching hospital participating in a nationwide SSI surveillance programme. All elective colorectal procedures performed between January 2010 and December 2023 were included. SSIs were classified according to CDC-NHSN/ECDC criteria. Eight binary EHR-derived “alerts” were combined into a composite rule (any alert positive). Manual surveillance served as the reference standard. Performance was assessed overall, by SSI depth (superficial, deep, organ/space), and by procedure type (colon vs rectal). Discrimination (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 1213 patients (1085 colon; 128 rectal) were included. The overall SSI incidence was 11.2 % (3.1 % superficial, 1.2 % deep, 6.8 % organ/space). The composite alert achieved an AUC of 0.859 (95 % CI 0.838–0.878) for any SSI, with sensitivity 0.721, specificity 0.876, PPV 0.424, and NPV 0.961. At this operating point, 19 % of procedures would be flagged for manual verification, corresponding to an estimated 81 % reduction in full chart reviews. Discrimination was highest for organ/space infections (AUC 0.919; sensitivity 0.831; specificity 0.911). Performance for deep SSI was intermediate (AUC 0.805), and for superficial SSI, more limited (AUC 0.571). Sensitivity was higher for colon surgery (AUC 0.853) and specificity higher for rectal surgery (AUC 0.881).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The structured-data algorithm demonstrated strong overall discrimination and excellent performance for organ/space infections, supporting the feasibility of semiautomated surveillance without compromising detection quality. External and prospective validation, definition of diagnostic safety thresholds, and workload-reduction analyses are required to optimise implementation. Exploration of NLP add-ons may be considered where resources permit. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07130656.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103151"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Post-exposure prophylaxis with favipiravir among household close contacts to confirmed COVID-19 cases: A cluster-randomized trial (PEPfavi)","authors":"Taweegrit Siripongboonsitti ,&nbsp;Teerapat Ungtrakul ,&nbsp;Kriangkrai Tawinprai ,&nbsp;Krongkwan Niemsorn ,&nbsp;Kunsuda Punjachaipornpol ,&nbsp;Worrawat Sangwipasnapaporn ,&nbsp;Natcha Wattanapokasilp ,&nbsp;Marisa Muadchimkaew ,&nbsp;Saowanee Wongpatcharawarakul ,&nbsp;Kamonwan Soonklang ,&nbsp;Nithi Mahanonda","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remains a key driver of community spread, with secondary attack rates in Thai households reaching approximately 50 %. There is limited evidence supporting the efficacy of antiviral post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in this context.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The phase 2/3, open-label, (1:1) cluster-randomized controlled trial in Thailand, 168 household close contacts from 76 index cases were enrolled to receive either favipiravir-PEP (FPV-PEP) (1600–2000 mg/day for 7 days) or usual care. The efficacy of FPV-PEP was investigated in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection after contact with index cases.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The incidence of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection was lower in the FPV-PEP group than in the usual care group (7.32 % vs. 14.47 %), although the difference was not statistically significant. A trend toward fewer early positive rapid diagnostic test results on day 3 was observed in the FPV-PEP group. Symptom development was less frequent among FPV-PEP recipients, with fewer cases of fever, rhinorrhea, and myalgia. A significantly higher probability of remaining asymptomatic and delayed symptom onset was observed in the FPV-PEP group. No participants developed severe COVID-19 or required hospitalization.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>FPV-PEP was associated with a lower incidence of fever, rhinorrhea, and myalgia among household contacts. While a reduction in secondary transmission was observed, it did not reach statistical significance. Further large-scale studies are warranted to clarify its role in preventing household transmission.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 103150"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146102486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The emergence of JN.1 variant resurgent COVID-19 wave in India and South Asia is a global public health concern","authors":"Najibah Nasrin ,&nbsp;Asfia Hasan Mumu ,&nbsp;Abir Hasan Pranto ,&nbsp;Md. Rabiul Islam","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 has heightened global health concerns. Here, we aimed to evaluate viral characteristics, epidemiology, transmissibility, infectivity, immune evasion, effectiveness of current antiviral therapies, immunization options, genomic surveillance and public awareness against the stealthy JN.1. We searched across key databases to identify recent insights regarding JN.1 variant. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the virological characteristics and public health implications. Early genomic analyses reveal notable mutations in the spike protein, which may enhance viral transmissibility and immune escape. The findings indicate JN.1 to exhibit greater infectivity and enhanced ability to circumvent immune defenses attributable to one mutation identified as L455S. Public health agencies worldwide are enhancing monitoring, genomic surveillance, data sharing, revising containment strategies, promoting booster vaccination campaigns Furthermore, it is imperative to promote public adherence and global collaboration in encouraging the practice of preventive strategies to mitigate potential threat posed by JN.1.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 103146"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serological and molecular investigation of suspected chickenpox cases from India, 2016–2025","authors":"Sunil R. Vaidya,&nbsp;Sarang S. Kamble,&nbsp;Madhukar B. Kamble,&nbsp;Roben P. George,&nbsp;Pankaj G. Pandey,&nbsp;Atul M. Walimbe","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox is a neglected disease in India with numerous outbreaks reported in the last decade. Unfortunately, varicella vaccine is not included in India’s Universal Immunization Program (UIP), and active surveillance is not in place. Investigation of suspected varicella cases from various Indian regions was done to understand disease burden and molecular epidemiology.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Between 2016 and 2025, 195 clinical cases from suspected chickenpox cases were referred for virological investigation from five States and one Union Territory of India. Samples were analyzed for Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) using IgM-EIA and/or conventional PCR. Virus isolation was attempted on Vero, MRC-5, and WI-38 cell lines. PCR-positive products were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis to identify circulating VZV clades.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 195 suspected cases, 159 (81.53 %) were confirmed by serological or molecular methods. Majority of the cases (n = 152, 77.94 %) occurred in individuals under 18 years of age, with higher incidence among males (n = 119) than females (n = 76). Of 58 diverse clinical specimens, 43 showed VZV DNA. Sequencing of representative PCR products showed circulation of VZV clade-5 in 29 cases and clade-9 in a single case. Unfortunately, attempts at VZV isolation were not successful.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study confirms a high laboratory-confirmed rate of varicella among suspected cases in India, with children being the most affected. Molecular data identified VZV clade-5 as primary circulating genotype. These findings highlight a significant burden of chickenpox and provide molecular evidence to support inclusion of the varicella vaccine in India’s Universal Immunization Program.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 103147"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977899","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Clustering analysis of sexual behavioral patterns and risk of sexually transmitted infections in Chinese men who have sex with men” [J Infect Public Health 18 (2025), 102786]","authors":"Bingyang She ,&nbsp;Yiming Liu ,&nbsp;Siqi Lin ,&nbsp;Fang Lu ,&nbsp;Yi Liu ,&nbsp;Jiajun Sun ,&nbsp;Gaixia Li ,&nbsp;Yawu Hu ,&nbsp;Shu Su ,&nbsp;Lei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103129","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103129","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 103129"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145952305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Time-series evaluation of an ED-based syndromic alarm system before and during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Jeongmin Moon ,&nbsp;Youn Young Choi ,&nbsp;Hye Sook Min ,&nbsp;Ho Kyung Sung ,&nbsp;Kyung-Shin Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To evaluate the performance and limitations of an emergency department (ED)-based syndromic surveillance (SyS) model for detecting respiratory infection outbreaks in Korea, across distinct age groups and epidemiological contexts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a retrospective time-series analysis using nationwide data from Level 1 and 2 EDs between January 2017 and December 2022. Syndromic visits were defined as those with fever (≥38.0 °C) or respiratory symptoms. Age-stratified autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were trained on data from January 2017–December 2018 and January 2020–December 2021 to forecast syndromic ED visits in January–December 2019 and January–December 2022, respectively. Alarms were triggered when observed visit counts exceeded both the model’s 95th percentile prediction interval and historical day-of-week thresholds. Alarm performance was assessed against ED discharge diagnoses of respiratory infectious diseases.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The system performed well under stable pre-pandemic conditions, particularly among children aged 0–4 years (3-day alarm sensitivity: 1.000; specificity: 0.964), and moderately among adults aged 65 years and older. In contrast, model performance deteriorated in 2022 under pandemic conditions, especially among adults aged 20–64 years, with alarm sensitivity dropping below 0.300. The decline was driven by persistently elevated syndromic activity during the Omicron wave, which overwhelmed the static thresholds of the ARIMA models.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>ED-based SyS can offer timely and specific early warning for seasonal respiratory outbreaks, particularly in pediatric populations. However, its utility is limited during sustained pandemic waves. Future surveillance systems must incorporate adaptive models, dynamic thresholds, and multiple data streams to remain effective under evolving epidemiological baselines.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 103149"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology of hepatitis C in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba compared to Canada, 1980–2023","authors":"Zipporah Gitau ,&nbsp;Camilo Suarez-Ariza ,&nbsp;Maria Arango-Uribe ,&nbsp;Mariana Herrera-Diaz ,&nbsp;Camila Oda ,&nbsp;Angela Copete ,&nbsp;Rotem Keynan ,&nbsp;Ameeta E. Singh ,&nbsp;Stuart Skinner ,&nbsp;Cara Spence ,&nbsp;Lauren J. MacKenzie ,&nbsp;Ken Kasper ,&nbsp;Laurie Ireland ,&nbsp;Jared Bullard ,&nbsp;Lucelly Lopez ,&nbsp;Diana Marin ,&nbsp;Margaret Haworth-Brockman ,&nbsp;Zulma Vanessa Rueda ,&nbsp;Yoav Keynan","doi":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jiph.2026.103148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Canada aims to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) by 2030. While national rates have dropped, regional disparities persist. In 2021, Manitoba had the highest new HCV rates, and Saskatchewan's rates were double the national average. This study aimed to describe the incidence and risk factors associated with HCV infections in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, compared to Canada,1980–2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This ecological study used publicly available government reports from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Canada (1980–2023) on HCV cases and rates by year and disaggregated by sex (female/male), age, ethnicity, province, sexual orientation (gay/bisexual men who have sex with men, heterosexual), and risk factors (injection drug use, blood products, and history of incarceration).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Since becoming nationally notifiable in 1991, HCV incidence in Canada has declined, but Saskatchewan has reported consistently rates above the national average since 2005. Manitoba's incidence rose, peaking in 2018, with the highest national rate in 2021 (42.8/100,000), while Alberta had the lowest rate (14.5/100,00 people). Males represented 61 % of HCV cases in Canada in 2022, but the sex gap is narrowing, particularly in the Prairies. Most cases in Canada occur among individuals aged 40–59, but younger groups (20–39) are increasingly affected in the Prairies, particularly females of childbearing age and males aged 30–39. Injection drug use was the leading risk factor in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Canada is on a downward trend in rates of HCV; however, Manitoba and Saskatchewan have higher rates, possibly due to syndemics of substance use, which are leading to increased rates of HIV and STBBIs. A collaborative effort in surveillance, testing, treatment, and prevention of HCV across the three provinces is necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16087,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Infection and Public Health","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 103148"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}