Doctors call for mass hepatitis E vaccination

Flood victims at increased risk of water-borne diseases such as hepatitis E, malaria, dengue and cholera

LAHORE:

Stagnant floodwater spreading over one-third of the country may take up to six months to recede, increasing the risks of water-borne diseases such as hepatitis E, malaria, dengue and cholera.

Services Hospital Gastroenterology Unit Head Dr Asif Gull and leading gastroenterologist and hepatolgist Dr Israrul Haq Toor said while speaking to the media that it is being reported that at least 128,000 pregnant women in flood-hit areas urgently need care, with 42,000 expected to give birth in the next three months.

They said hepatitis E is a lesser known but dangerous form of the disease, which is water-borne, and is already one of the leading causes of death in expecting mothers in the country.

"The devastating floods have worsened the situation to catastrophic proportions. Luckily, a vaccine for hepatitis E is available in Pakistan," the doctors said, urging the government, medical community and civil society to come together in the face of the adversity and rally behind the flood victims by ensuring their access to the vaccine.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2022.