KARACHI, July 29: Experts at a seminar on Saturday blamed the spread of Hepatitis A and E in the country mainly on poor sanitation conditions and inadequacy of safe drinking water.

The seminar was organised by the Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD) in collaboration with the World Congress of Gastroenterology’s Karachi training centre and others at the Aga Khan University Hospital in connection with the World Hepatitis Day. Physicians and other health professionals attended the seminar, which covered management, diagnosis and manifestation of different types of hepatitis.

The general consensus among the participants was that only and integrated and concerted efforts by stakeholders could help control the spread of chronic Hepatitis B and C.

Prof Wasim Jafri, President of the PSSLD, urged the professionals and trainee doctors to play their role in preventing, diagnosing and treating liver diseases by keeping themselves fully updated.

Participants of the discussion observed that major cities lacked proper sanitation arrangements and adequate supply of safe water. They noted that the situation in rural areas was worse. “These problems, coupled with defective sewage disposal, are the major factors contributing to the unabated spread of Hepatitis A and E,” they said.

Deliberating upon the viral hepatitis, some of the speakers said that in Pakistan, chronic liver disease due to Hepatitis C, B and D viruses was rampant. The prevalence of Hepatitis C and B was 6 and 4 per cent, respectively, said one of the speakers.

A session dedicated to Hepatitis B was chaired by Dr Wazir Shaikh, Professor of Medicine at the Chandka Medical College, Larkana.