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Rabat – A recent analytical study by seven Moroccan researchers has shown Morocco’s progress in controlling the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) between 2000 and 2024.
Published in BMC Infectious Diseases, the study suggests that the country has moved toward a low-prevalence status for the disease, with rates comparable to those observed in countries with low HBV incidence, rather than in nations with medium or high prevalence.
The researchers attribute these results to the effectiveness of Morocco’s multi-faceted approach, which combined technical, financial, political, educational, and regulatory measures, alongside the national vaccination program launched in 1999.
The study also points to the need for continued efforts to maintain this progress and address weaknesses in national disease management.
The team reviewed data from multiple scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. Their analysis showed limited scientific output on HBV in Morocco during the first eight years of the 2000s, with only three studies identified.
Research activity increased significantly between 2009 and 2016, with approximately 13 studies conducted, averaging 1.3 per year and peaking at five in a single year.
This period also saw the first national surveys targeting blood donors and active populations, covering nearly 520,000 participants.
Between 2017 and 2024, HBV research in Morocco diversified further, with 14 studies involving over 229,000 participants. The study notes that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted HBV screening programs at national and global levels.
According to the study, the highest prevalence rates were observed among patients with renal failure and people living with HIV, reaching 5.43%.
These populations are particularly vulnerable due to frequent exposure to medical procedures and weakened immune responses, as well as the presence of asymptomatic infections that routine tests may not detect.
Conversely, the lowest infection rates were recorded among military personnel, reflecting the effectiveness of vaccination policies within the Royal Armed Forces and stringent blood-donation protocols in military hospitals.
Health care workers showed a prevalence rate of just 1.77%, below the African regional average, despite vaccination coverage in this group ranging between 28% and 55% and limited reporting of occupational exposures.
The study also identified significant gaps in data for high-risk populations, such as prisoners and newborns of HBV-positive mothers, pointing to the need for targeted research in line with the national program’s goal of reducing new infections by 50% by 2026.
The research was conducted by Moroccan scholars affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy in Rabat, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), and the Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation in Rabat.
The study follows the announcement by Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection that the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee has officially recognized the country as controlling hepatitis B.
According to the ministry, this acknowledgment reflects Morocco’s significant progress in the prevention, detection, and management of the virus and marks an important step toward the strategic goal of fully eliminating hepatitis B as a public health threat.
