[Hepatitis C in Poland in 2007]. / Wirusowe zapalenie watroby typu C w Polsce w 2007 roku.

In 2007, with 2753 new cases of hepatitis C (by definition cases with clinical signs or elevated liver function tests only), the incidence (6.5 per 100,000) was comparable to observed in the previous year (2949 new cases with the incidence rate 7.7 in 2006). There were 132 deaths due to hepatitis C. The cause of death in 128 cases was chronic stage of hepatitis C and the other 4 deaths were the result of the acute hepatitis C. In 2007 the number of cases of newly detected HCV infection reported was 10,242, which corresponds to the rate of detecting HCV of 26.9 per 100,000 population. The observed rate increased by 14% in comparison to 2006, but this increase is likely to be due to surveillance artifact as data on newly detected cases are only collected at national level since 2006. Hepatitis C remains a major problem of public health in Poland.

[HIV and AIDS in Poland in 2007]. / Zakazenia HIV i zachorowania na AIDS w Polsce 2007 roku.

In 2007 in total 718 newly detected HIV cases were registered in Poland (1.9 per 100,000 population), a comparable number to 2006. The total number of incident AIDS cases diagnosed in 2007 and registered up to the end of 2008 was 133 (incidence 0.35 per 100,000 population). There were 61 death of AIDS patients in 2007 registered up to the end of 2008. Among the newly diagnosed HIV cases as compared to 2006 a small increase of the share of infections acquired through heterosexual contact was observed (up to 7.8% of all and 38.4% of, which most likely reflects the spread of HIV in the general population in Poland. Across the country HIV infection is the most frequently detected among young people (20-29 years) and among males (77.6%). In comparison to the year 2006, the number of reports without information about the possible route of transmission increased. Furthermore, the percentage of late presenters, as defined by time between HIV and AIDS diagnoses of less than 3 months, is still growing, suggesting low awareness of risk or suboptimal availability of diagnostic tests. The largest group among patients with AIDS are also males and people aged 30 to 39 years. Most of them were probably infected through injecting drugs. Despite the successful implementation of antiretroviral treatment program a significant increase of AIDS incidence was noted. Among incident AIDS cases in 2007, a small percentage had been treated before developing AIDS.