Context: According to the World Health Organisation’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, 254 million people were infected with Hepatitis B and 50 million with Hepatitis C in 2022.
India accounted for the second-highest number of cases of Hepatitis B and C in 2022 after China, with 35 million (3.5 crore) infections.
About Hepatitis Infection:
- Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, caused by Hepatitis virus, that can cause a range of health problems and can be fatal.
- There are five main strains of the Hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. While other strains cause acute non-serious infections, types B and C lead to chronic disease and are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
- Common symptoms: Fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and Jaundice.
- India has launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program in 2018 with the aim to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by the year 2030.
Hepatitis B:
- It is transmitted through contact with infected blood, semen, or other body fluids. This can occur through sexual contact, sharing needles, or from mother to child during childbirth.
- Hepatitis B can lead to chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Hepatitis B vaccine is widely available in India and is an integral part of the National immunisation program (Universal immunisation program).
Hepatitis C:
- Primarily transmitted through contact with infected blood, commonly through sharing contaminated needles. It can also be transmitted through sexual contact, but this is less common.
- Many people with hepatitis C may not experience symptoms initially, but over time, it can lead to chronic liver disease and, in some cases, liver cancer.
- Antiviral medications are available for the treatment of Hepatitis C. however, no vaccine exists till date for it.