Viral hepatitis is one of the leading killers across the globe with a death-toll matching Aids or tuberculosis, health experts warn. "Hepatitis infections and their complications led to 1.45 million deaths in 2013, despite the existence of vaccines and treatments," the experts say.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows there were 1.2 million Aids-related deaths in 2014, while TB led to 1.5 million deaths. The organisation has put forward a global strategy to tackle hepatitis.
Health professionals say viral hepatitis refers to five different forms of virus (known as A, B, C, D, E) some can be spread through contact with infected bodily fluids and others (A and E) through contaminated food or water.
"Most deaths world-wide are due to B and C, which can cause serious liver damage and predispose people to liver cancer. But because people don't always feel the symptoms of the initial infection, they can be unaware of the long-term damage until it is too late," the experts add.
The WHO hepatitis strategy, which was put forward in May 2016, includes targets to reduce new cases of hepatitis B and C by 30b percent by 2020, alongside a 10-percent reduction in mortality.
The WHO says countries and organisations will need to expand vaccination programmes, focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B and increase access to treatment for hepatitis B and C, to help ensure these targets are met.
Comments
Comments are closed.