Nigeria: 40 million have hepatitis B or C: Survey

Some 40 million Nigerians are infected with the hepatitis virus–which causes inflammation in the liver, according to survey carried out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control with support from pharmaceutical research firm Roche, according to a Daily Trust report today.

Image/CIA

According to the survey, at least 11 in every 100 Nigerian has hepatitis B and 2.2% of the population having hepatitis C.

In the survey, blood samples were tested from 150 people in communities in two local government areas each in six states.

Other finding from the survey include people who had undergone local circumcision were 43% more likely to contract hepatitis B, mostly from using unsafe implements. It also found people were 17% more likely to contract the virus while getting tribal markings, 15% during blood transfusion, 13% during non sterile surgical procedures and 11% during body piercing.

For hepatitis C, the commonest risk factor was 52% in local circumcision, 21% in body piercing and 19% in unsterile blood transfusion.

According to the US CDC, Hepatitis B is caused by infection with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The incubation period from the time of exposure to onset of symptoms is 6 weeks to 6 months. HBV is found in highest concentrations in blood and in lower concentrations in other body fluids (e.g., semen, vaginal secretions, and wound exudates). HBV infection can be self-limited or chronic.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is most efficiently transmitted through large or repeated percutaneous exposure to infected blood (e.g., through transfusion of blood from unscreened donors or through use of injecting drugs). Although much less frequent, occupational, perinatal, and sexual exposures also can result in transmission of HCV.

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