With New Cases Recorded Daily…
Is Hepatitis B Now An Epidemic In Sierra Leone?
By Paul S Dangha (Environmental Scientist)
Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus. Some people with Hepatitis B are sick for only a short period of time. This is known as acute infection, but for others, the disease progresses to a serious life-long illness known as chronic Hepatitis B.
Many people, young and old are losing their lives to the claws of this virus. The dangers of Hepatitis B cannot be overemphasized. As a result, a probe on it through lab technicians and doctors was necessary, and the findings are startling. For patient confidentiality, no name was revealed, but doctors and technicians confirmed that there are new cases discovered on a daily basis. What is more worrisome is the lack of knowledge about this disease in the communities. People have no clue about this cloud of danger hanging over them, ready to pour down, and flooding the entire country. This brings us to the questions, what is government doing in readiness to weather this dangerous storm? Is there enough or any education done to bring awareness to the existing danger? What is government doing for those people that have already contracted the virus and those that are yet to contract it? Vaccine is available; and is government availing it to its people?
The cause of Hepatitis B is when blood, semen, or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; it can also happen during pregnancy or delivery.
DOES HEPATITIS B GO AWAY?
Most adults with Hepatitis B may fully recover from the ailment even if symptoms are severe sometimes. Infants and children are more likely to develop a long-lasting Hepatitis B infection. This is known as chronic infection. A vaccine can prevent Hepatitis B, but there is no cure if you contract it. However, there are medications that can control the virus from destroying the liver if the regimen chain is adhered to.
