HYDERABAD, Oct 19: Renowned gastroenterologist Prof Sarwar Jehan Zubairi has said that about 170 million people throughout the world were suffering from hepatitis-B and C which was a killer disease.

She was giving her keynote address at a seminar on “Update on Hepatitis-C” held at the Liaquat University Hospital hall here on Saturday.

She said that 10 per cent people below the age of 20 years and 50 per cent above the age of 40 years were afflicted with this fatal disease.

She said that 25 per cent of the people fell prey to this disease due to the transfusion of blood of a person who was already suffering from this disease, and added that this disease also spread through the re-use of syringes.

She emphasized the need for screening the blood before transfusion.

Speaking on the occasion, the vice-chancellor, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Prof Jan Mohammad Memon, said that Hepatitis-C was likely to spread due to the use of wrong medicines.

He suggested that before admissions to medical colleges, the students should be screened for blood and they should be vaccinated against Hepatitis-C free of cost.

Prof Memon cautioned that excessive use of alcohol could also become the cause of Hepatitis-C and could also damage the liver.

Prof Noor Mohammad Memon, in his speech, said that although Hepatitis-C was an incurable disease, nevertheless its complications could be controlled.