country Guinea-Bissau is currently experiencing a rise in HIV-1
prevalence and at the same time holds the world’s highest
prevalence of HIV-2.3 An estimated 170 million people are
chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and more than
three million are infected annually.4 Based on the RNA sequence
homology, HCV has been classified into six major genotypes and
several subtypes; genotype 2 has previously been found in GuineaBissau.5
HCV shares a route of transmission with HIV, and the
greatest risk of transmission occurs with direct percutaneous
exposure to infectious blood.6 HCV may also be transmitted
sexually, but the risk is considered relatively low.7 Although HCV is
prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, the predominant modes of