Drive against Hepatitits-B,C begins today in Lahaul-Spiti

Tribune News Service

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Mandi, October 26

To eradicate Hepatitis-B and C diseases in tribal region of Lahaul-Spiti, the district health authority has decided to launch a massive campaign for vaccination across district, which will be started from October 27 and continue till November 3.

In the past few years, there has been a sharp increase in number of patients infected with Hepatitis-B and C in the district, which has raised alarming bells for the state government to take preventive measures.

On the direction of the state government, to study the spurt and associated risk factors of Hepatitis in the tribal region, a team of doctors from the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, headed by Dr Brij Sharma, head of the gastroenterology department, was working over it to detect the real cause of the outbreak of this disease.

Doctor Naresh Kumar, Chief Medical Officer(CMO), Lahaul Spiti, said the recent study conducted by the IGMC team revealed that out of 4,000 people in Spiti valley alone, 900 patients were found infected with the Hepatitis virus.

“To deal with the menace, health authority will start a campaign in the district and there is target to cover 20,000 people above the age of five years. The vaccination will be provided in nearby health institution and residents are advised to come forward for it,” he said.

According to medical experts, Hepatitis was a disease with an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. Hepatitis B and C usually occurred as a result of contact with infected body fluids. The common modes of transmission for these viruses include contaminated blood or blood products and invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment. Hepatitis B is transmitted from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual contact. Dr Naresh Kumar said the Kaza health block, having a population of 12,000, has reported a high incidence of Hepatitis B for the past three years.

He urged people to be vigilant against hepatitis in Lahaul Spiti and visit their nearby health institution and get vaccinated all family members.