July 26, 2016.
According to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet, viral hepatitis killed 1.45 million people in 2013. This is 63% more than in 1990. How to explain it?
Deadly viruses
According to a team of researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Washington, who relied on data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.45 million people died in 2013 from viral hepatitis. During the same period 1.4 million people died from tuberculosis, 1.3 million from AIDS and 885,000 from malaria.
These viruses are transmitted through blood or other infected bodily fluids (hepatitis B and C), or through ingestion of contaminated water or food (hepatitis A and E). But the vast majority of deaths (96%) are caused by hepatitis B and C, which damages the liver and causes cancer.. ” Viral hepatitis B and C represent the most important public health issues, due to the number of cases and their severity », Specifies the Inpes (National Institute of prevention and education for health).
Various occasions of contamination
If hepatitis B is mainly transmitted sexually, there is no better way to prevent it than using a condom. As for hepatitis C, it can appear when taking drugs by intravenous for example. The virus ” can also be transmitted during tattoos, dental care or acupuncture performed with poorly sterilized equipment or by blood transfusion before 1992 », Specify researchers from Inserm (National Institute for Health and Medical Research).
Currently, there is no vaccine against hepatitis C, but research in this area continues. On the other hand, a treatment exists which has proven its effectiveness. The only real problem with hepatitis B and C is that after infection, around 80% of people are asymptomatic. The virus is often detected late, when it has had time to do some damage.
Read also: Unconventional treatments for hepatitis B
