12 Hepatitis-B cases detected in Jammu - Special screening of high risk groups launched

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12 Hepatitis-B cases detected in Jammu

Special screening of high risk groups launched

GK NEWS NETWORK

Jammu, Aug 5: Some 12 Hepatitis-B cases have been detected in Simbal camp area

sending alarm bells ringing among the authorities of health and Medical

Education department, highly placed sources said.

Alarmed over the detections, sources said, the department has launched a

special screening of high risk groups across the district.

Most of the affected persons are associated with transport business and were

detected with the disease during a camp organised by the Gastroenterology

Department, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.

“It was quite surprising as it was a routine camp during which the cases of

Hepatitis-B were diagnosed”, said a health official.

Officials said that health department which has already been working among the

high risk groups for AIDS awareness, has now decided to organise more such camps

and ensure community awareness about the Hepatitis-B as well.

“It is an infectious disease and there is every possibility that a person

having the virus could infect his family members and those who have close

proximity with him. That is the main concern”, said the official.

Around 40 million people in India are infected with Hepatitis- B and the risk

of its transmission is hundred times more than that of the dreaded HIV. So far

no major study has been carried out in Jammu and Kashmir, but hundreds of people

could be carriers of the deadly virus.

When contacted Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist at GMC Dr Shoukat Chowdhary

said, “Though it does not cover the general public data, but the detection among

persons mostly drivers and labours is matter of concern”.

He said that the disease is life threatening and if not treated on time. “Virus

can cause inflammation of the liver which leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer”,

he said.

Hepatitis B is a blood borne disease which is more infectious than HIV virus.

As per the medical experts, the best way to prevent this disease is awareness

among the masses because if detected on time can be cured in 80 percent of the

cases.

The symptoms of infection include fatigue, joint aches, fever, nausea,

vomiting, stomachache, jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin), dark urine and

clay-coloured stools.