Prevalence of hepatitis B in Iran dropped to less than 2% of population

EghtesadOnline: Head of Iran Hepatitis Department said that the disease had been controlled by vaccination, adding that since the infants and high-risk groups have been vaccinated since 1994-1995, the prevalence of the disease has dropped to less than 2% of the population.

News ID: ۷۶۸۲۳۷

18 July 2016

Moayed Alavian told IRNA on Monday that over 5% of people used to be affected by hepatitis B but the figure has dropped to 2% in all provinces except Sistan, Baluchestan and Golestan.

Referring to the fact that the prevalence of hepatitis reached to less than 1% in some of the provinces, he added that the disesase is rare in people of under 27 and has reached to 0.5 %.

Alavian noted that risky sexual behaviors and addiction are the most important ways to communicate hepatitis B.

Pointing to July 28 as World Hepatitis Day, he said that attempts to finding, supporting, and treating patients and attracting the attention of policy makers, officials and media to this disease are regarded as the most important aims of the event.

Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. It is a major global health problem. It can cause chronic infection and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Infants and children are more vulnerable to hepatitis B. A vaccine against hepatitis B has been available since 1982. The vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection and the development of chronic disease and liver cancer due to hepatitis B.