Experts identify more jaundice viral strains

MUMBAI, May 13: Hepatitis E could be the culprit virus in the jaundice epidemic sweeping Kalyan, say gastroenterology experts. Although the ...

MUMBAI, May 13: Hepatitis E could be the culprit virus in the jaundice epidemic sweeping Kalyan, say gastroenterology experts. Although the usual suspect in jaundice cases is the Hepatitis A virus, this year, cases of jaundice from Hepatitis E, which doctors say is associated with epidemics, have also cropped up in city hospitals.

8220;The most common cause of jaundice is Hepatitis A,8221; said Dr Philip Abraham, Head of the Gastroenterology department, KEM Municipal Hospital see box. But this time round, the blame is being directed at the Hepatitis E virus in the case of Kalyan, he added. Informed Dr Shobna Bhatia, Head of Gastroenterology department, Nair hospital, over the last two months, there have been at least ten cases of Hepatitis E infection in Nair Hospital alone. And in Kasturba Hospital, sources reveal that, there are more adults with Hepatitis E infection than there are Hepatitis A cases. Dr Abraham also concurs that there are sporadic cases of Hepatitis E infection round the year in Mumbai.

DrBhatia also informed that Hepatitis A doesn8217;t normally occur in epidemic proportions, rather, Hepatitis E is associated with epidemics. However, Dr S V Pai, assistant health officer epidemiology with the BMC, denies that incidence of jaundice was due to Hepatitis E in Mumbai.

Added Dr Abraham, 8220;Although both the viruses are contracted through contaminated water and food, almost 85 per cent of the normal adult population in Mumbai and 95 per cent of the adult slum population are known to have antibodies to Hepatitis A.8221; No tests, however, have been carried out in Kalyan to identify the virus. D D Male, Deputy Director of Health Services, Thane district, is also not sure whether the culprit is Hepatitis A or E. And the lack of adequate diagnostic facilities in public hospitals also means that there is practically no case data on the different viral forms causing hepatitis, besides viruses A or E. 8220;Even cases of Hepatitis B are not monitored by the BMC,8221; reveals Dr S A Lalchandani, deputy executivehealth officer city. For health authorities, only the outbreak matters, not its roots, remark doctors.