Over 5 million people could die of viral hepatitis in the next decade in South-East Asia region, according World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates.
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, which inflames the liver, is one of the major public health problems globally and is the tenth leading cause of death, private news channel reported. More than two billion people worldwide have evidence of HBV infection and there are more than 350 million chronic carriers of this infection, including nearly 40 million people in India. “The WHO estimates that more than five million people in the Southeast Asia region will die of hepatitis in the next 10 years,” the WHO said. The WHO estimates that an estimated 100 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B infection and 30 million people with chronic hepatitis C infection in the region. The WHO warning which comes ahead of the World Hepatitis Day on July 28 will increase awareness and understanding of the viral hepatitis and diseases it causes. “Viral hepatitis must be given greater priority in terms of both resources and effort. Good surveillance is essential. Infant immunisation coverage for hepatitis B must reach levels greater than 95 per cent.
“It should be mandatory for all blood and blood products to be screened for hepatitis B and C,” WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Samlee Plianbangchang said.
There are seven types of viruses which can cause viral hepatitis, called hepatitis A to G. Of these, the most common causes of infection are with one of four viruses: hepatitis A, B, C and E. All of these viruses can cause an acute illness with symptoms lasting several weeks, including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); dark urine; extreme fatigue; nausea; vomiting and abdominal pain.
The infection can cause acute illness with symptoms such as nausea, dark urine, vomiting and abdominal pain. “About 65 percent of those with hepatitis B and 75 percent of those with hepatitis C do not know they are infected. An effective vaccine has been available to prevent hepatitis B since 1982,” the WHO said.
The UN health agency added that it is developing a strategy to prevent and control viral hepatitis in the region. The WHO is bringing health experts from 11 countries that will help finalise the strategy addressing areas of policy, planning and resource mobilisation, surveillance, prevention and control, education, medical care and treatment and research. “The quality of hepatitis testing in public and private laboratories needs to be monitored. We need widespread public awareness campaigns, targeted at health and social workers as well as the general public, to increase awareness about the risk of viral hepatitis,” Plianbangchang said.
