Hepatitis on the rise in Vietnam
More than three million Vietnamese are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to the recent findings from the survery conducted by the Ministry of Health . Meanwhile, 40% of the HCV patients may die due to HCV-related complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer , the survey cited.
Dangerous and in some cases, fatal, Hepatitis C has no obvious symptoms, especially at the early onset of the disease, according to the Vietnam Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (VLBA). HCV can be transmitted by blood, tooth extraction and unprotected sex.
Health experts advised that increasing disease awareness as well as improving treatment and healthcare infrastructure can help in combatting the prevalence of the disease.
In a related development, the Ministry of Health announced in April that it is adding three new types of vaccines for infants under the national expanded immunisation programme this year. The India-produced vaccine, ComBe Five, will replace the Korean-made Quinvaxem, which is being administered in Vietnam to prevent five common diseases in infants, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B. Berna Boitech Korea Corporation, the manufacturer of Quinvaxem, has stopped making the vaccine. The switch to the WHO-approved ComBe Five will be carried out on June once the remaining stock of the Quinvaxem vaccine is used up by the end of May.
Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals
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