Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Health
Why in news?
In recent years, multiple outbreaks of Hepatitis A in India have caused acute liver failure, making a strong case for its inclusion in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
World Hepatitis Day - July 28
- Hepatitis A – It is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus.
- Unlike hepatitis B and C, it does not cause chronic liver disease or permanent liver damage, and most people recover completely.
- Transmission & Causes –
- The virus is primarily spread through the fecal-oral route, meaning a person ingests food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person.
- The disease is closely associated with unsafe water or food, inadequate sanitation, poor personal hygiene and oral-anal sex.
- Symptoms –
- Usually appear 2 to 6 weeks after exposure and are often mild, especially in young children.
- They can last for several months in adults and may include fatigue, nausea & vomiting, abdominal pain (upper right side), fever, loss of appetite, jaundice, itching, etc.
- Risk factors – Poor sanitation, unsafe water, and inadequate hygiene practices.
- Treatment – There is no specific antiviral treatment for hepatitis A, instead it typically involves supportive care to manage symptoms and keep the patient comfortable.
- Prevention – Improved sanitation, food safety, safer sex practices (notably for oral-anal sex) and immunization are the most effective ways to combat hepatitis A.
- India has its own indigenous vaccine - Biovac-A, a live-attenuated vaccine for Hepatitis A.
Hepatitis B vaccine is already part of UIP).
- WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report, 2024
- Viral hepatitis causes over 1 million deaths annually, mostly from Hepatitis B and C and Hepatitis is now the 2nd leading infectious killer after tuberculosis.
- India carries a high burden of Hepatitis A, B, and E, with Hepatitis A increasingly causing acute liver failure.
- 2030 Targets – WHO aims to reduce new infections by 90% and deaths by 65%.
References
- The Hindu | Hepatitis A deserves a place in India’s UIP
- WHO | Hepatitis A
- CDC | Hepatitis A
