UP village records rising cases of Hepatitis B, C; unsafe shaving, haircut practices suspected

Indian Express

2 days ago

At least 64 people in a village in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district have tested positive for Hepatitis B and C cases, recording an alarming rise in the infections, officials said Monday.
Preliminary investigations by health officials suggested that the likely cause of the outbreak in the Sonsari village, which does not have a barber shop, is the unsafe shaving and hair-cutting practices followed by barbers who come from neighbouring villages.
These barbers are suspected of using non-sterile blades and equipment, which could have resulted in the widespread transmission of blood-borne viruses, especially Hepatitis B and C, said a health officer.
'There isn't a single barber shop in our village. Barbers are invited here every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Almost every male resident gets their shaving and haircut done by them,' said village pradhan Shailendra Mishra.
Health officials have urged residents to use new or properly sterilised tools for shaving and haircuts. They have launched an intensive screening and testing drive across Sonsari village to detect and prevent the spread of the infection.
Mishra added that after medical officers informed them that the disease likely spread through the razors brought by barbers, the village formed two or three teams. 'These teams are working to convince residents to get their shaving and haircuts done at home using clean and personal tools, to lower the risk of infection,' he said.
Sonsari village, located around 50 kilometres from the Sitapur district headquarters, has a population of around 3,000, with farming being the primary occupation. A few residents have also migrated outside the district for work.
According to officials, the infection was first reported last month when a few residents visited the Community Health Centre (CHC), Tambour, in Behta block for blood tests related to other health issues.
Dr Suresh Kumar, Chief Medical Officer, Unnao, said on Tuesday that the health department decided to test more people after other villagers also tested positive, and set up a medical camp.
In the two medical camps organised recently, blood samples were collected from 400 residents and sent for testing. 'Out of these, 64 people were found positive for Hepatitis B and C. We are now working to collect and test blood samples from the entire village,' said Kumar.
Most of those who tested positive are not showing any symptoms, he added.
Hepatitis B and C spread through contact with infected blood or body fluids. This can happen through unprotected sex, sharing needles, using unsterilised medical or dental tools, sharing razors or blades, and unsafe tattooing or piercing.
CMO Kumar said that while the exact cause of the Hepatitis B and C outbreak in the village is yet to be confirmed, the suspected reason is the shared use of razors and blades during shaving and haircuts.
A team of physicians from the Sitapur district hospital is also being sent to the village to assist with diagnosis and further investigation, he added.
The medical department is also compiling detailed case histories of each infected individual, with special focus on men and women separately, to better understand the pattern of the outbreak.
CMO Kumar said the blood samples of those who tested positive are being sent to King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow for viral load testing, which will help assess the severity of the infection in each case.
The health department is also planning to collect blood samples from neighbouring villages, and is preparing a list of Sonsari residents who are currently working outside the district.
'Once the details of Sonsari residents currently living outside the district are collected, the list will be shared with the chief medical officers (CMOs) of the respective districts to ensure they are tested and to prevent any further spread of the infection,' said Kumar.