Over 5 million people in Southeast Asia are expected to die from hepatitis over the next 10 years and most of them would not know the disease that will kill them until it's too late, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
“The vast majority of people infected with hepatitis are unaware, undiagnosed and untreated,” said Dr. Sylvie Briand of WHO’s Pandemic and Epidemic Disease Department.
The WHO also said that most of the people who have hepatitis are unaware of how sick they are, and realize that they are infected only when they experience symptoms or complications years after contracting the disease.
“Only by increasing awareness of the different forms of hepatitis, and how they can be prevented and treated, can we take the first step towards full control of the disease and save thousands of lives,” Briand said.
Four types of Hepatitis
According to WHO data, 65 percent of those with Hepatitis B (HBV) and 75 percent of those with Hepatitis C (HCV) are not aware that they are infected.
WHO then urged governments to strengthen their efforts against viral hepatitis, adding that the disease kills about 1 million people worldwide every year.
Hepatitis is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation. Depending on the type, it can be transmitted through infected bodily fluids or contaminated food and water, WHO said.
The five hepatitis viruses include type A, B, C, D and E. Vaccines are available for all the types, except C.
WHO expressed particular concern over types B and C, noting that these two types account for almost 80 percent of all liver cancer cases.
According to the organization, types B and C are additionally problematic because those who have it may not experience symptoms until they are chronically ill.
According to WHO, types A and E are transmitted through contaminated water or food, and are linked to poor sanitation and poor personal hygiene.
Meanwhile, types B, C, and D are transmitted through infected blood, and can be contracted from unsafe injections or unscreened blood transfusions.
Types B and C can also be transmitted through unprotected sex, while type D only infects those who already have type B.
New framework
Under their framework released ahead of the World Hepatitis Day on July 28, WHO outlined four priority areas in preventing and treating hepatitis.
Among these areas are raising awareness, transforming scientific evidence into policy and action, preventing transmission, and providing screening, care, and treatment.
WHO, its member-states and partners will focus on the four priority areas to make prevention, care, and treatment programs more accessible to those who need it.-GMA News (July 26, 2012 08:02PM)
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