Butwal, Jan. 20 : About 2 million people across the world die of Hepatitis “B” every year.
About 300 million are believed to be the carriers of Hepatitis “B” virus, of which the Asian continent accounts for 80 per cent.
Of the total cases identified, 90 per cent victims are school children.
According to the experts, one suffering from Hepatitis “B” may develop cirrhosis of the liver and cancer. One may contract the disease through blood, sputum, saliva, vaginal dischage, sexual contact, syringes, razor blade, scissors, acupuncture materials, towel, tooth brush, cotton pads used during menstruation, and boils in the skin.
This was informed at a meet-the-press programme organised by Nepal Parasite-Borne Disease Control and Hematology Research Centre here today.
It is estimated that one per cent of the total population of Nepal suffer from this disease.
According to the survey conducted by Dr. Santosh Man Shrestha, because of frequent visits to the neighbouring countries, 11 per cent of the people at Boudha, Kathmandu have been found to have developed the symptoms of the disease.
Under the integrated school children health programme, the centre has been administering vaccination to the students studying in various public and private schools to protect them from contracting the Hepatitis “B” virus.
Under the programme, about 50,000 children and general people in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kabhre and Kaski have so far been administered vaccination against Hepatitis “B”.
The centre is to launch the vaccination programme against Hepatitis “B” in Rupandehi, Palpa, Kapilvastu and Nawalparasi districts with Butawal as the focal point.
According to the centre, the disease does not show any symptoms in the case of the new-born babies but it might show up in the baby after a long time if the new-born is the carrier of the virus.
Convenor of the centre Gairu Prasad Neupane said a kind of vaccine smuggled into the country has badly affected the vaccination programme here.