Dimapur reports 6 hepatitis-related deaths in 1 year

DIMAPUR— As many as six hepatitis-related deaths – two hepatitis C (HCV) cases and four hepatitis B (HBV) cases – were reported from 1,850 screenings done at the District Hospital Dimapur from July 2022 till July 26 2023, according to the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) Dimapur.

Speaking on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day 2023 on the theme “One life one liver” held at Hotel Four Seasons, Dimapur, Imti Aier from NVHCP revealed that 92% screening history for HCV was injecting drug users (IDUs) and 27% co-infections, while for HBV, 95% of screening history were from the general category.

For the HCV, out of the 256 viral loads detected during the period, 252 patients have been initiated treatment at the District Hospital Dimapur, while 167 have completed treatment. For the HBV, out of 128 positive cases, 83 patients were found eligible for treatment and 74 are currently under treatment. 

In his keynote address, Senior specialist, NVHCP Dimapur, Dr. Neilasakuo Linyu, said that 1.34 million deaths and 1.75 million new infection of HCV were reported globally in 2015. In India, 40 million are chronically infected with HBV while 6-12 million infected with HCV, he updated.

The aim for the health sector is to eliminate HCV by 2030, reduce morbidity and mortality associated with hepatitis B and C; reduce risk, mortality and morbidity due to hepatitis A and E, he said.

The main objective at present is towards prevention, testing, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, training and capacity building, he added.   

The doctor said that most symptoms appear only in advance stage, making it a silent disease with serious consequence. He lamented that despite the availability of effective and safe intervention for prevention, testing and treatment, only 18% of hepatitis B cases have been diagnosed and 5% received treatment, while 25% of hepatitis C cases have been diagnosed and 10% received treatment.

So, he opined that it’s time to prioritise a hepatitis-free world and meet global 2030 target.

He also updated that hepatitis B infection in children has been significantly reduced through immunisation but there is an urgent need to ensure that 1.90% of people living with hepatitis B and C get diagnosed.

He informed that all pregnant women with hepatitis B have access to treatment and their infants to birth vaccine.

Hepatitis has various strains: hepatitis A and E are transmitted through oro-fecal route; hepatitis B can be transmitted through mother to child, percutaneous and infected blood; and hepatitis C can be transmitted through infected needle and can be cured although there is no vaccine for it.

Linyu informed that free testing, baseline work up and treatment for the disease is available in all district hospitals.

DMC administrator W Manpai Phom stressed on the need to avail treatment and also called upon NVHCP to disseminate information and awareness on diagnosis and treatment to the community.

“The Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has taken over other existing illness as it had created a fear among the people and the people consider Covid with all seriousness. Likewise, hepatitis should be taken with all seriousness,” Phom said.

He also expressed concern over the health safety of the DMC sanitation workers who are at high risk of contracting hepatitis because of the nature of their work and called for joint efforts to create awareness and to eliminate hepatitis from the society.

It was also announced that there will be free testing for hepatitis at the DMC office from 11 am onwards on July 29.

The World Hepatitis Day 2023 was jointly organised by the Nagaland Users Network and Dimapur Municipal Council in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer Office, NVHCP Dimapur and Dimapur District Users Network.