New Delhi (NVI): Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver tissue, which is caused by a viral infection. It affects millions of people across the world, causing both acute and chronic liver disease.
On July 28, World Hepatitis Day (WHD) is observed across the globe in order to raise awareness about the disease and with an aim to eliminate it completely from planet earth by 2030.
Moreover, the symptoms of the disease are hard to detect as there may be no symptoms at all sometimes or can also be confused with the common flu. There are 5 main types of viral hepatitis, be it Type A, B, C, D and E are a group of diseases that affect the liver.
This year, the theme for World Hepatitis Day is “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India carries around 50 per cent of the global burden of chronic hepatitis.
Globally, 290 million people are living with viral hepatitis being unaware. Without finding about the undiagnosed disease and linking them to care, millions will continue to suffer, and lives will be lost.
In addition to this, more than 250 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection worldwide.
However, together, hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.3 million lives lost each year. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis continues to claim thousands of lives every day.
The Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) in a 2016 report says that Hepatitis C a contagious infection of the liver, affects about 12 million people in the country.
Meanwhile, the WHO will also be publishing new recommendations on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus today.
-RJV
