‘Hepatitis B virus more infectious than HIV’

Hepatitis B virus is spread by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. Hepatitis B virus is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.

“Do get the blade changed while visiting a hair stylist; change needle at a tattoo centre and if there is even a small injury on the hair stylists’ hand make them wear gloves or at least a medicated tape.”

Globally more than 240 million people are affected with chronic liver infection caused by Hepatitis.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday to mark the World Hepatitis Day to be observed on July 28, Dr Sumit Rungta and Dr Ajay Kumar of the King George’s Medical University said that in Uttar Pradesh it is estimated that there are 8 million hepatitis and 2.5 million hepatitis C patients.

Experts say hepatitis virus can survive outside body for hours, hence it is risky to use the same blade for two persons even if they are relatives, as status of someone being carrier is often unknown.

Doctors said both hepatitis B and hepatitis C are easily treatable with oral medicines but the fact is hepatitis is a largely silent but persistent epidemic. The WHO has aimed at eradication of hepatitis by 2030 so that it ceases to be a major public health problem.