25-07-2013, 04:00 PM
Pretoria - The National Health Laboratory Service and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, together with the national Department of Health, will commemorate World Hepatitis Day on Monday, 29 July.
Community workers, clinicians and researchers from hospitals and academic institutes across South Africa will participate in this national event, and gain insight into Hepatitis and the existing developments around the disease.
The theme for this year is, ‘This is Hepatitis. Know it. Confront it’.
Hepatitis B is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. In South Africa, up until now, Hepatitis B has been particularly common in two age groups - young children and young sexually active adults.
Past studies have found that about 8% of children under one and almost 16% of children under six years of age are infected with Hepatitis B.
Between 10% and 18% of South African adults are Hepatitis B virus carriers. Infection has been more common in some areas of the country, for example the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Since vaccination of all children against Hepatitis B was started in 1995, it is hoped that the disease and its complications will soon become far less prevalent.
Over two billion people are infected globally and more than 240 million have chronic liver infections due to Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
About 170 million people are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and more than 350 000 people die from liver disease related to the infection every year.
As a result, one in 12 people worldwide is living with the disease. World Hepatitis Day serves to make people aware of Hepatitis, inform them about the risks and break down stigma.
HBV and HCV are transmitted through infected blood and blood products, sexual contact, inadequately sterilised surgical equipment and sharing needles for drug use. In many cases, the route of transmission is not known.
Blood safety in South Africa has effectively reduced Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C transmission.
Up until 1995, the Hepatitis B vaccine was only given to people in high risk groups, particularly healthcare workers.
Children and adults born before 1995 will probably not have been vaccinated against Hepatitis B. It is advisable for young people who are sexually active to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
In older children and adults, the vaccine is given in three doses, usually over six months. It is important that three doses of vaccine be given, with at least one month spacing between them, in order for good immunity to be achieved. - SAnews.gov.za
Community workers, clinicians and researchers from hospitals and academic institutes across South Africa will participate in this national event, and gain insight into Hepatitis and the existing developments around the disease.
The theme for this year is, ‘This is Hepatitis. Know it. Confront it’.
Hepatitis B is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. In South Africa, up until now, Hepatitis B has been particularly common in two age groups - young children and young sexually active adults.
Past studies have found that about 8% of children under one and almost 16% of children under six years of age are infected with Hepatitis B.
Between 10% and 18% of South African adults are Hepatitis B virus carriers. Infection has been more common in some areas of the country, for example the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Since vaccination of all children against Hepatitis B was started in 1995, it is hoped that the disease and its complications will soon become far less prevalent.
Over two billion people are infected globally and more than 240 million have chronic liver infections due to Hepatitis B virus (HBV).
About 170 million people are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and more than 350 000 people die from liver disease related to the infection every year.
As a result, one in 12 people worldwide is living with the disease. World Hepatitis Day serves to make people aware of Hepatitis, inform them about the risks and break down stigma.
HBV and HCV are transmitted through infected blood and blood products, sexual contact, inadequately sterilised surgical equipment and sharing needles for drug use. In many cases, the route of transmission is not known.
Blood safety in South Africa has effectively reduced Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C transmission.
Up until 1995, the Hepatitis B vaccine was only given to people in high risk groups, particularly healthcare workers.
Children and adults born before 1995 will probably not have been vaccinated against Hepatitis B. It is advisable for young people who are sexually active to be vaccinated against Hepatitis B.
In older children and adults, the vaccine is given in three doses, usually over six months. It is important that three doses of vaccine be given, with at least one month spacing between them, in order for good immunity to be achieved. - SAnews.gov.za