Hepatitis C patients from across the world will come together to spread awareness on the disease, by observing October 1, 2005 as Hepatitis C Awareness Day.
The objective of the World Hepatitis-C awareness day is to draw the attention of people towards the gravity of the virus that has emerged as a major global healthcare problem, infecting approximately three per cent of the world’s population.
Hepatitis C, which was once relatively unheard of, today affects 170 million people worldwide and over 10.9 million people in India. Every year the number of those newly infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is on a rise by three to four million worldwide. National trends indicate a sizeable concentration of Hepatitis C cases in North Eastern India. Among the metros, 4 lakh Delhiites are suffering from Hepatitis C and Mumbai accounts for 3 lakh cases. Gujarat also carries a patient load of 3.37 lakh.
Going by sheer numbers, Hepatitis C has outpaced the HIV/AIDS menace in India. Moreover, approximately 30 percent of HIV patients also simultaneously suffer from Hepatitis C.
The groups at risk for acquiring the disease include, intravenous drug users, haemodialysis patients, and health-care workers with exposure to blood and blood products, transfusion and transplant recipients and people with tattoos.
Dr. Niranjan Banka, Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Bombay Hospital said, “Screening of blood for the Hepatitis C virus was made mandatory only from 1 June, 2001. Majority of people who have received blood transfusion prior to this period are most vulnerable to get the virus. People from the high-risk groups should be conscientious about Hepatitis C. They must get their blood screened by a liver function test and an anti-HCV test.”
Hepatitis C is a blood-born viral infection of the liver that was first identified only in 1989. Few people realise that they are infected as the symptoms are non-specific (such as fatigue) and people tend to become aware when their disease is quite advanced.
Today the most common route of transmission is use of unsterilised needles (such as those used in tattooing and by intravenous drug users) and syringes.
It is the most infectious virus having 50% chronicity and is responsible for large number of patients affected with cirrhosis. If not treated early may require liver transplant or may further develop to liver cancer. It is largely asymptomatic and has a tendency to cause chronic liver disease.
Low levels of awareness about the disease and treatment options do not allow the existing treatment options available to be fully utilised. Also, unlike Hepatitis B there is no known vaccine available to protect a person against Hepatitis C. Since 2001 Government has it mandatory for blood banks to screen the blood for Hepatitis C. Research reveals that only 6% of the blood banks in India screen the blood for hepatitis C.
“Today, with innovations in technology such as pegylated interferon alfa-2a, between to 80-90% of people with Hepatitis C can be successfully treated. Data of four years follow-up has shown that 98% of patients are still disease free. However we believe that first and foremost it is essential to raise awareness and detection to combat the spread of the disease,” informed Dr. G. L. Telang, Managing Director, Roche Scientific Company India Pvt. Ltd.