KARACHI, May 14: Cases of chronic Hepatitis B registered among adult population is mainly due to their exposure to the virus during the first year of their lives.

Pakistan Medical Research Council Director Dr Huma Qureishi highlighted the fact in her presentation at PMA House on Saturday.

She mentioned that around 3.5 per cent of the local population was suffering from Hepatitis B while another four per cent from Hepatitis C and that the total number of people inflicted with liver diseases in the country was estimated to be around seven to eight million.

Mentioning that Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted through blood and body secretion with contaminated needles also among a major source, she said that adults normally did not become Hepatitis B carriers after acute exposure.

“Although treatment is available for a certain group of chronic Hepatitis B carriers, it is not equally effective for all. Hence vaccine emerges to be the only mode to prevent the disease,” she said.

She said that people could get infected with Hepatitis C at any point of time and its treatment was available with 50 per cent to 60 per cent recovery chances. No vaccine was available to prevent the virus, Dr Huma said.

Earlier Dr Samina Hashmi introduced the speaker and PMA Karachi chapter president Dr Naseer Ahmed Baloch welcomed the guests.—APP