Context:
World Hepatitis Day (WHD) takes place every year on 28th July.
Hepatitis:
- Inflammation of the liver (irritation or swelling of the liver cells) from any cause.
- Causes –
- Group of viruses known as the “hepatotropic” (liver directed) viruses, including A, B, C, D and E.
- Viruses such as the varicella virus that causes chicken pox.
- SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 may injure the liver too.
- Other causes – Drugs and alcohol abuse, fat buildup in the liver (fatty liver hepatitis) or an autoimmune process in which a person’s body makes antibodies that attack the liver (autoimmune hepatitis).
- Types –
| Hepatitis A virus (HAV) | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) | Hepatitis C virus (HCV) |
| An inflammation of the liver that can cause mild to severe illness. Transmitted through contaminated food and water or through contact with an infectious person. Recovery is easy. Effective vaccine is available | A viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause acute and chronic disease. Commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth, or during sex with an infected partner, or unsafe injections. Can be prevented by vaccines. | Can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis and can cause even liver cirrhosis and cancer. Infection occurs through exposure to unsafe health care, blood transfusions, injection drug use and sexual practices. Currently, no effective vaccine against hepatitis C. |
- Hepatitis D can be prevented by Hepatitis B immunization, but treatment success rate are low
- Hepatitis E vaccine available in china but not elsewhere
Government Initiatives:
- National Viral Hepatitis Control Program – Aims to end viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 in the country.
- India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) – Hepatitis B is included under India’s UIP which provides free of cost vaccination against 11 vaccine-preventable diseases
Source: Times of India
Previous Year Question
Which of the following diseases can be transmitted from one person to another through tattooing?
1. Chikungunya
2. Hepatitis B
3. NW-AIDS
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation
Chikungunya virus is primarily transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.
