KARACHI, Nov 1: With an estimated seven million hepatitis B carriers, Pakistan would have to launch a massive vaccination campaign at all levels against the disease, healthcare experts have observed.

They have reminded that hepatitis B and C have emerged as global health problems and the number of hepatitis B carriers in Pakistan constitutes five per cent of the total number — 350 million — of such patients in the world.

The situation, they said, places an enormous burden not only on the government but also on the patients compelled to spend millions of rupees on their treatment which often appears unsatisfactory due to the limited treatment options available.

Timely vaccination is cited as the most preferable precaution as this can prevent hepatitis B effectively as pre-emption against the infection very early in life if administrated during the first week of birth.

This is significant also because of the probability of mother-to-infant transmission of the virus at the time of or just after the delivery.

It is observed that 95 per cent of the infants who acquire hepatitis B infection become chronic carriers of the virus.

According to doctors, if the infection is acquired in the first year of life, it results in chronic liver disease and hepatocellular cancer in adolescents.

Although less than 10 per cent of the patients acquiring the infection in adult age may turn into carriers, all individuals must be vaccinated against hepatitis B.—APP