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The Citizen
28-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
‘Let's shine a light on hepatitis' – Springs' nurse urges awareness on World Hepatitis Day
As the world commemorates World Hepatitis Day (July 28), a local nurse practitioner said the day is an opportunity to raise awareness, promote education and support those infected with hepatitis in the community. Sister Nomvula Mtshali from Epilepsy SA in Springs told the Springs Advertiser that World Hepatitis Day is important for the community because many might not understand the risks, symptoms, and consequences of hepatitis. She also said the condition can carry stigma, which leads to social isolation and delays in seeking care. She added that awareness campaigns can promote prevention strategies such as vaccination, safe sex, safe injection practices, and encourage testing and treatment to improve health outcomes and reduce transmission. 'By promoting awareness and prevention strategies, we can reduce transmission in our community. Early detection and treatment improve outcomes and lessen the burden of hepatitis on individuals and families. World Hepatitis Day helps raise awareness and support for those living with the disease,' said Mtshali. Mtshali also said that awareness can lead to early detection and treatment, improving outcomes, and help prevent transmission through safe practices. It also helps reduce stigma and promotes understanding and support. ALSO CHECK: Joburg gets ready to thrive at 2025 SPAR Women's Challenge Jozi She said hepatitis remains a significant public health concern in SA and highlighted the viral hepatitis types: • Hepatitis A (HAV): Transmitted through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person. Usually causes acute illness, and symptoms resolve on their own. • Hepatitis B (HBV): Transmitted through bodily fluids, such as blood and semen. It can cause acute or chronic infection, potentially leading to liver damage; • Hepatitis C (HCV): Primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact, such as sharing needles. Often causes chronic infection, which can lead to liver damage and liver cancer. To protect themselves from hepatitis, Mtshali said people should practice good hygiene, get vaccinated, use safe injection practices, practice safe sex and avoid sharing personal items. She also noted that food and water safety are crucial. 'If you are at risk or have been exposed, get tested for hepatitis. If someone in your household has hepatitis, take precautions to avoid close contact, such as not sharing personal items. Stay informed about hepatitis risks, symptoms and prevention strategies,' she said. ALSO CHECK: Springs Photography Club monthly competition showcases local photography talent Common symptoms: • Fatigue: Feeling extremely tired or weak; • Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes; • Loss of appetite: Decreased interest in food; • Nausea and vomiting: Feeling queasy or vomiting; • Abdominal pain: Discomfort in the abdominal area; • Dark urine: Urine might appear darker than usual; • Pale stools: Stools might appear lighter or clay-coloured. She said that there are opportunities for improvement through public awareness campaigns, community outreaches and healthcare provider education and that people with hepatitis often require comprehensive support and care to manage their condition. She concluded by saying the community should work together to raise awareness, promote education and support those affected by hepatitis. 'Let's shine a light on hepatitis. Awareness, testing and treatment are key to eliminating this disease. Get informed, get tested, and let's work together to create a hepatitis-free future.'
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Business Standard
28-07-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
World Hepatitis Day 2025: What it is, why it matters, what you can do
World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on 28 July to raise global awareness about hepatitis and push for urgent action against the disease. The date also commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed a vaccine for it. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a variety of infectious viruses and non-infectious agents. There are five hepatitis viruses that can infect humans and cause disease: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Hepatitis D virus (HDV) Hepatitis E virus (HEV) Why hepatitis awareness matters now more than ever Viral hepatitis, particularly types B and C, is a serious liver infection that often goes undiagnosed until it causes severe complications like cirrhosis or liver cancer. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Program estimates that 40 million people in India live with hepatitis B, and over 6 million with hepatitis C. Kerala saw one of the worst outbreaks of hepatitis A this year, with 3,227 confirmed cases and 16 deaths reported state-wide by April 2025. In May alone, over 50 new hepatitis cases were recorded. According to the World Health Organization (WHO): Around 1.3 million people die from hepatitis-related causes every year 254 million people are living with hepatitis B worldwide 50 million people are living with hepatitis C 6,000 people are newly infected with viral hepatitis each day Today is World #Hepatitis Day. Did you know❓ Hepatitis is the second leading infectious cause of death globally, with hepatitis B and C claiming 3 500 lives every day. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones ???? — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 27, 2025 Vaccines for hepatitis A and B are widely available, and hepatitis C has a cure - but lack of access and awareness remain major barriers. What the 2025 campaign theme highlights The 2025 campaign theme— 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down' —focuses on dismantling the barriers to diagnosis, care, and prevention. These barriers include social stigma, limited healthcare access, high treatment costs, and underfunded programmes. The goal is to: Break financial barriers by making diagnosis and treatment affordable Tackle stigma and misinformation so people feel safe seeking help Improve access to vaccines and medicines, especially in underserved areas WHO has urged countries to ramp up efforts to stay on track to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. What individuals can do to help reduce hepatitis risk Despite medical breakthroughs, millions remain undiagnosed and untreated. To meet the 2030 elimination target, governments must invest in widespread testing, improve access to vaccines, and make health systems more inclusive.
Daily Maverick
27-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
More than 70 million people in Africa are living with chronic viral hepatitis
Two to three million South Africans have chronic viral hepatitis, with most remaining undiagnosed and untreated. Hepatitis occurs when different viruses cause inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis E (HEV) viruses are mainly spread through contaminated food or water and typically cause self-limiting infections. This means that following a short period of illness — ranging from mild to severe and occasionally life-threatening — the affected person usually recovers fully. In contrast, three other types of hepatitis viruses — hepatitis B (HBV), C (HCV) and D (HDV) — are transmitted mainly through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, saliva and semen. This may lead to chronic infection of the liver, meaning the infection persists for at least six months. Chronic infection may last for life, and carriers, as people with chronic infection are called, remain infectious and can pass the infection to their close contacts without ever knowing they are infected. The younger someone is when becoming infected, the higher the risk of developing a chronic infection. Mother-to-child transmission A mother can also pass HBV to her child during childbirth, especially when she has a high concentration of the virus in her blood. More than 90% of babies infected by their mothers will become carriers. Mother-to-child transmission of HBV is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic HBV infection. Fortunately, HBV infection can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine. While there is no vaccine for HCV, it can be treated and cured using effective antiviral medications. Chronic HBV and HCV infections, unless recognised and treated on time, may eventually lead to serious, often fatal conditions such as liver cirrhosis or primary liver cancer. Of the more than 300 million people worldwide estimated to be living with chronic HBV or HCV infection, more than 70 million are in Africa. Two to three million South Africans have chronic viral hepatitis, with most remaining undiagnosed and untreated. Studies from our group and others have shown that chronic HBV infection is responsible for more than 60% of primary liver cancer cases in South Africa. Primary liver cancer is more common in males and tends to develop relatively early in adulthood, cutting lives short. Alarmingly, chronic infection often goes unnoticed until it causes serious complications, by which time treatment options are very limited and usually too late. Public awareness It is therefore fitting that 28 July is commemorated annually as World Hepatitis Day to raise public awareness of viral hepatitis. The theme for 2025, Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down, is aimed at dismantling various obstacles — including financial, social and systemic barriers — that stand in the way of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. South Africa has been making commendable progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat. The country introduced the vaccine against HBV in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation in 1995. This has led to a significant decline in the number of infections among children under the age of five. Nevertheless, some children continue to be infected because their mothers are not tested for HBV. This can be done using a simple rapid test, and if pregnant women are found to be infected with HBV, antiviral therapy will reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to their children. Pregnant women Diagnosing pregnant women with chronic hepatitis is an entry point to medical care — not only for their own health, but also that of their sexual partners and other family members who should also be screened for HBV. In 2024, South Africa started screening pregnant women for HBV and rolling out a birth dose HBV vaccine for babies born to infected mothers. This is a long-overdue move. It is still too early to evaluate its success, which depends on full commitment from all relevant stakeholders in all provinces. A simpler alternative that is less prone to implementation issues would be to administer the birth dose HBV vaccine to every baby instead of waiting until they are six weeks old, regardless of the mother's status. While eliminating new HBV infections among children is crucial, it is equally important to diagnose those who are already infected. Diagnosis is the gateway to care. This includes antiviral treatment and regular monitoring to enable early detection of liver cancer should it develop. The latest World Health Organization guidelines for management of chronic HBV infection have been simplified by abandoning previously complicated algorithms that excluded many people who could benefit from antiviral therapy. It is estimated that currently, fewer than 10% of those who should be getting treatment for chronic viral hepatitis are receiving it. Economic benefit Diagnosing and treating more chronically infected individuals requires financial resources. It is highly likely to be cost-effective from an economic standpoint, as severe illness and death affect adults in their productive years. In addition, it will kill two birds with one stone: to prevent serious illness in the infected person and to prevent new infections. The same applies to HIV: someone who is on treatment and has a low or undetectable viral load is essentially no longer infectious to others. However, there is an urgent need to identify funding mechanisms, particularly considering the current US administration's withdrawal of donor aid. It will be wise for African countries to come together and speak with one voice when entering into any negotiations with pharmaceutical companies that manufacture antivirals for chronic viral hepatitis. Societal barriers and misinformation While providing the necessary preventative and treatment methods, we also must break down societal barriers that hinder access to clinical care. We must also address misinformation. We have heard sad stories from individuals with chronic viral hepatitis during our community engagement initiatives of being ostracised within the community because of miseducation on how the infection is transmitted and its complications. Some patients with viral hepatitis have been accused of promiscuity, while in certain cases, the development of liver cancer has been blamed on witchcraft. Health educators will need to do more to educate the general public. It will also be beneficial to have functional support groups of people living with viral hepatitis, while the involvement of prominent individuals can also help to raise awareness about viral hepatitis. We can learn from public health responses to other viral infections and borrow some of the strategies to address viral hepatitis. Together we can 'break it down.' DM
Business Recorder
26-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Viral hepatitis: ChildLife calls for collective action to tackle
KARACHI: As Pakistan grapples with one of the world's highest hepatitis burdens, ChildLife Foundation is reinforcing its commitment to protecting the country's most vulnerable, its children. On this year's World Hepatitis Day, themed 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down,' ChildLife calls for urgent collective action to tackle the growing epidemic of viral hepatitis through treatment, awareness, and prevention. Hepatitis poses a serious threat to Pakistan's future. The country bears the second-highest global burden of Hepatitis C, with an estimated 9.7 million people infected. The national prevalence rate of hepatitis C stands at 4.3%, nearly ten times the global average, with even higher rates in rural and underserved areas. Unsafe medical practices, reuse of syringes, unregulated blood transfusions, and poor sanitation are major contributors to the spread. Children are at particular risk. Hepatitis A (HAV) spread through contaminated food and water affects 90% of children before the age of 10, with nearly all testing positive for HAV antibodies by adolescence. Hepatitis E (HEV) also remains common, particularly among older children and young adults. Since 2010, ChildLife Foundation has been on the frontlines of paediatric healthcare in Pakistan, offering free, 24/7 emergency treatment in over 300 government hospitals across the country. In the last 12 months alone, more than 5,000 children with hepatitis-related illnesses were treated in ChildLife's Emergency Rooms (ERs). 'Every hepatitis case in a child is a call to strengthen our public health systems and preventive efforts,' said Dr. Ahson Rabbani, CEO of ChildLife Foundation. 'At ChildLife, we are not only saving lives through emergency care but also building awareness to prevent future infections.' ChildLife's model integrates treatment and prevention. Its ERs follow strict infection control protocols, ensuring safe injection practices, sterilization, and proper waste management to minimize transmission risks. Beyond treatment, trained counsellors educate parents on hand hygiene, breastfeeding, clean drinking water, and the importance of timely vaccinations. Parents continue to receive follow-up health messages after discharge, reinforcing crucial preventive practices at home. To reach children in remote and underserved regions, ChildLife has also expanded its Telemedicine network, connecting government hospitals in small towns and rural areas to qualified paediatricians in major cities. Through this platform, thousands of children receive expert care and counselling for hepatitis and other life-threatening conditions without the burden of travel. These efforts directly target the root causes of hepatitis spread among children; unsafe environments, lack of information, and inadequate healthcare access. Special care is also provided to newborns of Hepatitis B-positive mothers, who receive immunoglobulin to ensure early protection. ChildLife Foundation believes that addressing hepatitis requires a united national effort. The organization urges policymakers, healthcare providers, civil society, and the public to play their part by promoting awareness, improving sanitation, ensuring vaccine access, and encouraging testing. 'As we observe World Hepatitis Day, let us renew our commitment to ending this silent epidemic,' added Dr. Rabbani. 'Together, we can reduce the hepatitis burden and protect every child's right to a healthy future.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
New York Post
26-06-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Deadly Hepatitis A outbreak infects thousands of travelers at popular European destinations
A spike in viral infections has sickened thousands of travelers and caused several deaths at some popular European destinations. Four countries — Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia — have reported a spike in hepatitis A cases between January and May 2025, according to a rapid risk assessment issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). In total, 2,097 cases have been reported across the four countries. Slovakia, which has been dealing with an active outbreak since 2022, represents 880 of those cases. Czechia is the next most affected country, reporting 600 cases and six deaths, the ECDC stated. Hungary has reported 530 cases in 2025, and Austria has reported 87. Hepatitis A is an 'acute viral liver disease' caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to the agency. 3 In total, 2,097 cases have been reported across the four countries. Getty Images/iStockphoto The disease is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, or through close contact with infected people. Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said that hepatitis A is a 'widely transmissible' disease that spreads easily among food handlers and 'can get you very sick.' People who have not received the hepatitis A vaccination or been infected by the virus are susceptible, the agency noted. Vaccinations are given in two doses, six to 12 months apart, according to Siegel. Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! 'People will have lifetime immunity after infection,' the doctor noted. 'A doctor can check your titres (levels of blood antibodies) to document that you are immune from prior vaccination.' Groups most affected by the infections include people who are homeless, use or inject recreational drugs or live in unsanitary conditions, as well as those with limited access to healthcare. 'Within these groups, the risk of the disease is assessed as moderate for those below 40 years of age and high for adults 40 years of age or older, as the severity of the disease increases with age,' the ECDC stated. 3 The disease is mainly spread through contaminated food or water, or through close contact with infected people. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 'For people with predisposing liver disease or older adults, the risk can be very high. The risk for the broader population in these countries is assessed as low to moderate.' Those who are immunosuppressed are also at a higher risk, the alert said. Not everyone will develop symptoms, but those who do may notice the following common effects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dark urine or clay-colored stools Diarrhea Fatigue Fever Joint pain Loss of appetite Nausea, stomach pain or vomiting Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) 'This outbreak reminds us that hepatitis A can cause serious illness and death, especially among people with limited access to healthcare and basic hygiene,' said Ole Heuer, head of the ECDC's One Health Unit, in a press release. 3 Those who are immunosuppressed are also at a higher risk, the alert said. LightRocket via Getty Images 'We need to strengthen outreach, provide access to vaccination in groups more likely to be exposed and ensure basic sanitation, especially in response to the increase in cases.' To address the outbreak, the ECDC recommends investigating potential means of transmission of hepatitis A, such as 'possible foodborne transmission or spill-overs into other groups at increased risk of infection.' The agency also calls for targeted vaccination programs, 'post-exposure prophylaxis' to close contacts to prevent infection, and more genetic testing of the virus, as well as increased education and awareness among high-risk groups. According to the CDC, receiving the hepatitis A vaccine or immune globulin (medication containing antibodies) within two weeks of exposure can prevent illness.
