Over 90 per cent of people with hepatitis C can be completely cured of
the virus within 36 months, says World Health Organisation(WHO).
''An estimated 95 per cent of people with hepatitis are unaware of their infection. Hepatitis tests are complex and can be costly, with poor laboratory capacity in many countries,'' the WHO said.
The Organisation has said appropriate treatment of hepatitis B and C can prevent the development of the major life-threatening complications of chronic liver disease: cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally and, given the size of the epidemic, anyone and everyone can be at risk, it said.
The Health Organisation said Viral hepatitis a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to 1.4 million people every year, mostly from hepatitis B and C. It is estimated that only 5 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis know of their infection, and less that 1 per cent have access to treatment.
WHO has said its forthcoming hepatitis testing guidelines will give countries advise on simpler testing strategies that will enable them to scale up hepatitis testing services.
The Health Organisation said World Hepatitis Day, which is on July 28, is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis and urge partners and Member States to support the roll-out of the first Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis for 20162021, which was approved during the 69 World Health Assembly in May this year.
The new strategy introduces the first-ever global targets for viral hepatitis.
These include a 30 per cent reduction in new cases of hepatitis B and C, and a 10 per cent reduction in mortality by 2020.
The WHO said key approaches will be to expand vaccination programmes for hepatitis B; focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B; improve injection, blood and surgical safety; "harm reduction" services for people who inject drugs; and increase access to diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis B and C.
On this year's World Hepatitis Day, WHO will call on policy-makers, health workers and the public to "Know hepatitis, act now". The Organisation urges them to inform themselves about the infection, take positive action to know their status by getting tested, and finally seek treatment to reduce needless deaths from this preventable and treatable infection.
The Health Organisation said activities will take place around the world to improve public knowledge of the risk of hepatitis, and enhance access to hepatitis testing and treatment services.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. 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 and cancer.
Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids.
Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.
Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. UNI NY SV ADG 1410
''An estimated 95 per cent of people with hepatitis are unaware of their infection. Hepatitis tests are complex and can be costly, with poor laboratory capacity in many countries,'' the WHO said.
The Organisation has said appropriate treatment of hepatitis B and C can prevent the development of the major life-threatening complications of chronic liver disease: cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Viral hepatitis affects 400 million people globally and, given the size of the epidemic, anyone and everyone can be at risk, it said.
The Health Organisation said Viral hepatitis a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to 1.4 million people every year, mostly from hepatitis B and C. It is estimated that only 5 per cent of people with chronic hepatitis know of their infection, and less that 1 per cent have access to treatment.
WHO has said its forthcoming hepatitis testing guidelines will give countries advise on simpler testing strategies that will enable them to scale up hepatitis testing services.
The Health Organisation said World Hepatitis Day, which is on July 28, is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis and urge partners and Member States to support the roll-out of the first Global Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis for 20162021, which was approved during the 69 World Health Assembly in May this year.
The new strategy introduces the first-ever global targets for viral hepatitis.
These include a 30 per cent reduction in new cases of hepatitis B and C, and a 10 per cent reduction in mortality by 2020.
The WHO said key approaches will be to expand vaccination programmes for hepatitis B; focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B; improve injection, blood and surgical safety; "harm reduction" services for people who inject drugs; and increase access to diagnosis and treatment for hepatitis B and C.
On this year's World Hepatitis Day, WHO will call on policy-makers, health workers and the public to "Know hepatitis, act now". The Organisation urges them to inform themselves about the infection, take positive action to know their status by getting tested, and finally seek treatment to reduce needless deaths from this preventable and treatable infection.
The Health Organisation said activities will take place around the world to improve public knowledge of the risk of hepatitis, and enhance access to hepatitis testing and treatment services.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for outbreaks and epidemic spread. 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 and cancer.
Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B, C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids.
Common modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact.
Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. UNI NY SV ADG 1410
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