Govt trying to develop anti-Hepatitis B drugs
Discussion told
The government is trying to develop medicines to prevent the attacks of Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which kills around five lakh people across the country every year, a BSMMU teacher said yesterday.
Dr Mamun-al-Mahtab, associate professor of Hepatology at Bangladesh Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), was addressing a discussion organised on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day. The day will be observed today.
About 5.4 percent of the country's population is infected with HBV, and 0.8 percent people have Hepatitis C virus. The viruses are responsible for chronic liver inflammation and liver cirrhosis.
Dr Mahtab said creating awareness among people and checking reuse of syringes could check the HBV infections a great deal.
A person with HBV usually did not expose any symptoms for years, according to the discussants. It can cause chronic liver inflammation and even liver cirrhosis, but the infected person might not feel the presence of the virus.
Only at an advanced stage, the patient can detect the symptoms, but by that time the liver no longer functions normally, they said.
The Association for the Study of the Liver, Dhaka held the discussion with Prime Minister's Advisor on Health and Social Welfare Prof Modassar Ali at Jatiya Press Club.
In his speech, Prof Modassar laid stress on combined efforts of all physicians and extensive research on the viruses.
Prof Selimur Rahman, president of Association for the Study of the Liver, chaired the discussion.
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