Illustrative image (Source: Jakarta Post)
Hanoi (VNA) – A recent survey conducted by the shows that
more than three million Vietnamese people are infected with
(HCV).
According to the survey, 40 percent of the infected people may die due to
HCV-related complications, including liver cancer.
The ministry said the number of deaths caused by Hepatitis B and C was the same
as the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Vietnam.
The prevalence of HCV in HCM City is alarmingly high, accounting for 3.2-4.2
percent. The incidence of cirrhosis in the city is 3.3 percent and liver cancer
is up to 4 percent. The HCV infection rate is as high as 96 percent among drug
addicts.
Hepatitis C is like a “silent killer” because it has no obvious symptoms but
can be extremely dangerous and, in some cases, life threatening, according to
the (VLBA).
HCV can be transmitted by blood, tooth extraction and unprotected sex, and the
number of infected people in the country is increasing. In the early stages of
the disease, most hepatitis C patients have no symptoms and it does not affect
the patient’s health, so most people do not realise when they are infected,
according to health experts.
A representative from VLBA said a patient’s health can be severely affected
when HCV transitions to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Patients at this stage have
anorexia, indigestion, swelling in legs, muscle aches, cramps, numbness,
itching, dizziness, fatigue and trembling hands. In addition to this, severe
complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid retention in the abdomen
and drowsiness can occur,” doctors said, giving hope that the potential to
eliminate HCV exists with appropriate disease awareness, screening, treatment
and health care infrastructure.
HCV continues to be one of the most prevalent blood-borne infections in the
world, affecting more than 185 million people globally. HCV-related
complications cause up to 500,000 deaths every year, with countries in East
Asia recording some of the highest HCV infection levels worldwide, according to
the World Health Organisation.
In the future, US-based Gilead Sciences biopharmaceutical
company plans to expand an initiative to reduce morbidity and mortality of
HCV in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.
The Gilead’s Access initiative has achieved remarkable results in Arkhangai province
of Mongolia since 2016 by providing screening for nearly 17,600 people. Among
the 1,774 people who tested positive for HCV, 1,748 have received treatment to
date and 99.7 percent of the infected population has fully recovered. In
addition to this, 36 cases of early-stage liver cancer were identified during
the screening process.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
