Health

Suspected Hepatitis B kills 19 in Gujarat

by nehalarya | February 18, 2009 at 12:53 am

191 views | 22 Recommendations | 3 comments

Hepatitis B is a blood-borne microorganism transmitted by exposure to the hepatitis B virus through infectious body fluids. Hepatitis B has a wide range of symptoms. It may be mild, without symptoms, or it may cause chronic hepatitis. In some cases, hepatitis B can lead to full-blown liver failure and death. The following are the most common symptoms of hepatitis B. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently.

Sabarkantha district in western Gujarat is suspected to be in the grip of the deadly Hepatitis B virus. At least 19 have died in Modasa taluka in the district in the past two weeks.

At the moment, there is panic in the area as hundreds of people have been spotted with symptoms of the disease.

"The negligence of private doctors in the region has created such havoc. They have re-used the syringes and prescribed wrong medicines. People are dying here, nobody is taking it seriously. The menace of untidy surroundings has not been tackled. People litter streets. If this problem is
checked, the epidemic won't take place," said Nitin Patel, whose sister is one of the affected.

Till Tuesday evening, 70 cases have been registered and 19 officially confirmed dead. According to social workers, negligence of doctors and unhygienic conditions are responsible for the outbreak.

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Sanjay Jha

at 04:05 on February 18th, 2009

Thanks very much for your post. I am going to retag it in the health channel.

gaomin (not verified)

at 07:42 on March 12th, 2009

Chronic hepatitis B can be cured food, See all -

http://china-quality.blogspot.com/2009/02/treatment-of-chronic-hepatitis-b-most.html

Jen157 (not verified)

at 11:31 on May 17th, 2009

This is often an issue in jails. Certain strains of hepatitis TB and other infectious diseases can be spread easily in such close quarters. Many times there are not symptoms at all untill its to late. Thats why hygine is so important and testing might become regulatory in the future like TB.