HEPATITIS
B – SCI & TECH
News:
Who killed Beethoven?
Hepatitis B, says forensic DNA analysis
What's
in the news?
● World Hepatitis Day
is observed each year on 28th July
to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis
B:
● Hepatitis
B is an infection in the liver which
happens because of the Hepatitis B virus or HBV.
Transmission:
● The
virus usually spreads through blood,
semen or other body fluids.
● The
virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and
delivery.
Global
Burden:
● It
is highest in the WHO Western Pacific
Region and the WHO African Region, where 116 million and 81 million people,
respectively, are chronically infected.
Treatment:
● There
is no specific treatment for acute
hepatitis B.
● Therefore,
care is aimed at maintaining comfort and adequate nutritional balance,
including replacement of fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhoea.
WHO
response:
Strategy:
● In
May 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted the first Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis, 2016-2020.
World
Hepatitis Day:
● WHO
organises annual World Hepatitis Day campaigns (as 1 of its 9 flagship annual
health campaigns) to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis.