4 percent of Vietnamese have hepatitis C: workshop
About 4 percent of Vietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C but they are not aware of the infection, thus increasing the risk of the virus spread among the community, heard a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on February 1.
About 4 percent of Vietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C. (Source: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – About 4 percent of Vietnam’s population get infected with hepatitis C but they are not aware of the infection, thus increasing the risk of the virus spread among the community, heard a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on February 1.
Tieu Thi Thu Van, Director of the HCM City HIV/AIDS Prevention Centre, said the Ministry of Health issued national guidelines on hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment in 2016.
However, she said, most of the patients are not aware of their condition, especially those at risks of HIV infection or living with HIV carriers, who are possible to contract hepatitis C.
With the support of PATH, an international health organisation driving transformative innovation to save lives, and Gilead Sciences, Inc, since February 2018, 2,500 people will be tested for hepatitis C free. Besides, up to 90 percent of hepatitis C carriers will receive treatment.
Dr. Kimberly Green, Director of HIV/TB and Non-communicable Diseases Programme of PATH, said 43-99 percent of injection drug users and 29 percent of men who have sex with men get infected with hepatitis C.
According to the World Health Organisation, hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus which is a bloodborne virus. The most common modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. This may happen through injection during drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.
Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C infection. -VNA
You should also see
HCM City plans to administer third COVID-19 vaccine shot from Dec. 10
Ho Chi Minh City plans to give additional and booster shots of COVID-19 vaccine to its locals from December 10, according to a document submitted by the municipal Health Department to the municipal People’s Committee for approval.
See more
Health
WHO talking points on Pfizer vaccine
Dr Kidong Park, WHO representative in Vietnam, gave an interview on the WHO’s opinion on the grounds for increasing the shelf life of Pfizer vaccine and recommendations for Vietnam about the use of Pfizer vaccine with an increased shelf life to 9 months in vaccination, especially for children.
Health
Daily number of COVID-19 cases rises from previous day
As many as 14,314 cases of COVID-19, including two imported, were recorded in Vietnam in 24 hours as of 4pm on December 5, according to the Ministry of Health.
Health
COVID-19: New cases on December 4 top 13,998
Vietnam recorded 13,998 cases of COVID-19 in 57 localities during 24 hours from 4pm December 3 to 4pm December 4, including 5 imported cases, according to the Ministry of Health.
Health
Meeting discusses rare disease action plan
Health experts reviewed the regional progress of the implementation of the APEC Rare Disease Action Plan over the past few years, at a meeting in Hanoi on December 2.
Health
Hanoi implements home quarantine for COVID contacts
Hanoi’s authorities are expanding home quarantine for F0 and F1 cases to 30 districts and townships, as prescribed by the health sector.
