Hepatitis outbreak: 1,379 cases registered in 11 months

Dr Sikandar Hayat says shaving with the same razor at barbershops is one cause behind the outbreak

SARGODHA: Punjab Diseases Surveillance and Control Cell has said 1,379 cases of hepatitis A, B and C were registered in total at all government hospitals during the last 11 months.

The cell said in its report that the increase in the number of hepatitis cases has alarmed the provincial health department.

Hospital sources said an exigent meeting of the medical officers at the special cell ordered to set up teams at the union council level to reduce the incidence of the disease.

One in 10 people is a hepatitis C carrier

Dr Sikandar Hayat Warriach said shaving with the same blade or razor at barber shops, reuse of syringes by quacks, body piercing with contaminated medical devices or instruments and street food are the real causes behind the hepatitis A, B and C outbreak.

He said on the directives of the Punjab government, the health department has built a facility for conducting hepatitis tests and providing patients with medicines.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2019.