Mexican Department of Public Health to Launch Screening for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Cause of Cervical Cancer.

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QIAGEN's digene HPV Test Selected for World's First National HPV Screening Program

Mexico City, Mexico - Nov. 19, 2008 - In a campaign to significantly reduce the most common cancer affecting Mexican women, the Mexican Public Health Agency (Secretaria de Salud or SSA) has announced it is launching the first phase of a program that will offer testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer, to low-income women age 35-65. The cost of the testing will be covered by the agency. In the first phase of the screening program, which is beginning this month, more than 200,000 women in the lowest-income 125 counties are being offered the papillomavirus test along with the traditional Pap smear. In 2009, the pilot program will be expanded to include another 600,000 women in the 20 states with the highest death rate from cervical cancer.

Since taking office, President Felipe Calderon has made reducing health inequalities in Mexico a top priority for his administration.

Cervical cancer is a major …