Concerns of Hepatitis Virus

Why in news?

WHO has listed viral hepatitis as a major public health problem throughout the world and particularly in India.

What is Hepatitis?

• Hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus are responsible for sporadic infections and the epidemics of acute viral hepatitis.
• Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus predominantly spread through the parental route and are notorious for causing chronic hepatitis.
• Hepatitis C is caused by a blood-borne virus, which affects the liver, it could spread through the use of injectable drugs, unsafe injection practices and transfusion of unscreened blood.
• However unlike hepatitis B, it is not sexually transmitted and there is no known vaccine for hepatitis C.

What is the findings of WHO report?

• According to WHO Hepatitis is preventable and treatable but remains an acute public health challenge globally and in the Southeast Asia region.
• Viral hepatitis kills approximately 4 lakh people every year in the Southeast Asia region and is responsible for more deaths than HIV and malaria put together.
• WHO says these high numbers are unacceptable as there is an effective vaccine and treatment for hepatitis B, and over 90% of the people with hepatitis C can be cured.

What is the status of Hepatitis in India?

• Water and blood-borne viral hepatitis is an important public health issue in India.
• In India viral hepatitis is causing premature death and disease with over 10 million people chronically infected with hepatitis B and C, this is six times the number of HIV/AIDS patients.
• The fact is that 95% of the people with chronic hepatitis do not know they have been infected and less than 1% have access to treatment.

What are measures needs to be taken?

• Union Health Ministry’s National Programme for Control of Viral Hepatitis for 2018-19, with a budget of Rs.600 crore for the next three years, hopes to screen the vulnerable population and provide free treatment where needed.
• The National Hepatitis Policy will translate into better surveillance and detection of water and blood-borne hepatitis viral infections in various regions.
• Availability of safe and potable water, early screening, vaccination and prevention of misuse of disposable needles and syringes will help to eliminate treatable viral hepatitis.
• Easy availability of the newly discovered drugs at a reasonable price will help to make India free of viral hepatitis by 2030

Source: The Hindu