Prevalence of Hepatitis B in the Country Has Decreased to Less Than 2 Percent

Stating that the prevalence of hepatitis B in the country drop to less than 2 percent, Head of Iran Hepatitis Network said that the rate of diabetes development is over 2 percent.

According to WEBDA, in the Conference of hepatitis B latent infection attended by physicians, internists and Infectious disease specialists, general practitioners, specialists of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, pediatricians and gynecologists, specialists in general surgery, virology and microbiology, laboratory sciences, and pathology in Mashhad, Dr. Moayed Alavian stated that all infants and high risk patients in the country were vaccinated against hepatitis B since 1373 and now the development of hepatitis has been relatively controlled.

Dr. Alavian stated that 30 million Iranians have so far been vaccinated against hepatitis B, and this has led to decreased prevalence of this disease in Iran in comparison with most Middle East countries. The prevalence of hepatitis B is more than six and a half percent in Afghanistan and 4 percent in Iraq.

The Director of Iran Hepatitis Network (IHN) added that 1 million 400 thousand cases of hepatitis B have been detected in Iran.

Stating that the hepatitis vaccine is injected within the first 24 hours of birth in Iran, he added that 90 percent of newborn babies are injected with the hepatitis vaccine at birth, while hepatitis vaccine coverage in the region is 40 percent.

The Director of Iran Hepatitis Network (IHN) stated in this conference that body cuts cause by cutlass is among the major causes of hepatitis B and C. The same thing has also been reported in Lebanon and Iraq.

Dr. Moayed Alavian added that regarding the arrival of days of Muharram, some people might use cutlasses while mourning which is not good regarding health.

He highlighted that people who commit to use cutlass, must be mentioned in their healthcare record and be banned from donating blood.

He added: “I demand that using cutlass be avoided in Muharram maintain the health of individuals and the society, because our infallible Imams (A.S.) are certainly against this action.

He highlighted that currently, there is no certain cure for hepatitis B and the only way to control this disease is through vaccination and prevention, and all the healthcare, detection and laboratory services of this disease are covered by insurance.

Pointing out that about 230 thousand people in the country are currently suffering from hepatitis C, he added that one of the major obstacles to treatment of hepatitis C in the country is that people do not visit physicians, while there are necessary facilities and capacities in the country for the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

According to him, hepatitis B and C medicines are currently being produced in Iran. These medicines are covered by insurance and are available for people with a quality equivalent to foreign medicines.

The Director of Iran Hepatitis Network (IHN) added that the prevalence of hepatitis C in the country is less than 0.5 percent, which is indicative of Iran’s major breakthrough in this area in comparison with other Middle Eastern countries.

Pointing to ways of transmission hepatitis C, he added that tattoos, unhygienic bloodletting, and prison record are among the risk factors of this type of hepatitis.

The Executive Secretary of the Conference of hepatitis B latent infection also stated that epidemiology, mechanisms of incidence of hepatitis infection, the significance of hepatitis B from the clinical and general health perspective, laboratory diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are the main topics of the Conference of hepatitis B latent infection.

Dr. Mohammadreza Hedayati added that the conference has retraining advantage and was held with the authorization of the Continuing Education Center (CEC) of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

It is worth mentioning that this 1-day conference was held under the auspices of Jihad Daneshgahi of Khorasan Razavi in collaboration with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.