Delhi launches Hepatitis C screening

Delhi became the first city in the country to begin screening of Hepatitis C. In an initiative by the Delhi government

Delhi became the first city in the country to begin screening of Hepatitis C. In an initiative by the Delhi government,the screening is being conducted at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus that manifests after 15 to 20 years as Cirrhosis and liver cancer in the infected person.

As a preventive measure,hospitals in the city will soon have the latest specific measure like nucleic acid testing (NAT),of all in order to reduce the residual risk of transmission of Hepatitis C,Delhi Health minister A K Walia said. He was speaking at a function to mark the 14th World Hepatitis Day organised at ILBS on Sunday.

Since there is no vaccine against this life threatening disease,prevention becomes necessary. Along with screening and NAT testing the government has been offering assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh on liver transplant and Rs 1.5 lakh per annum for treatment to poor patients as treatment and surgery of Hepatitis is very costly than transplantation of heart and other organs , he said.

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Dr S K Sarin,Director,ILBS said,This virus takes 20 years to manifest. Testing blood for the presence of Hepatitis C began in the year 1997. That is why we are also advising people who have undergone unsafe blood transfusion of any kind before the year 1997 to get themselves screened for Hepatitis C virus, he said.

A majority of patients diagnosed with Hepatitis C are those who have undergone surgery or blood transfusion in the past or taken repeated injections. Healthcare workers,unsafe blood transfusion and babies born to Hepatitis C infected mothers are at high risk, he said.

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