By The WHO report’s findings regarding India having the second-highest number of hepatitis B and C cases after China underscore the significant health challenge posed by these infections in the country.
India ranking second in hepatitis B and C cases following China:
As per the WHO report, emphasizes the urgent need for heightened awareness and robust public health initiatives. Prevention strategies, such as vaccination drives and education campaigns, alongside improved access to testing and treatment, are crucial in combating the spread of these diseases. Efforts should be focused on early detection and comprehensive care to reduce the burden of hepatitis in India and safeguard public health.
There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. While they all cause liver disease, they differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods.
In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths.
The WHO on Tuesday flagged that the number of lives lost due to viral hepatitis is increasing with the disease being the second leading infectious cause of death globally (with 1.3 million deaths per year) the same as tuberculosis.
