Statistics show that over two million Cameroonians are exposed to these viral infections.

Statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that more than 2, 000 million people alive worldwide today have been infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) at some time in their lives. Of this, about 350 million remain infected chronically and become carriers of the virus. WHO further estimates that about three per cent of the world’s population has been infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and that there are more than 170-180 million chronic carriers, who are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer.

The situation in Cameroon seems worrisome as national statistics reveal that the prevalence rate of hepatitis virus in the country stands at 11.9 per cent with two million Cameroonians exposed to HBV and 2,000 infected with HCV. While government is making strides to reduce the cost in treating these deadly and costly viral diseases, health experts say the population should be conscious against these diseases. A Public Health specialist in Yaounde, Dr Jude Ngu Achidi, says hepatitis B and C are the most dangerous amongst the viral disease which greatly affect the liver causing cancer.

HBV, doctors say, is transmitted when blood, semen, or any other body fluid from a person infected with the Hepatitis B virus get in contact with the body fluid of someone who is not infected. This can happen through sexual intercourse, sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment, or from mother to child at birth. Dr Ngu Achidi stressed that Hepatitis B is not spread through food, water, or casual contact. Health personnel explain that for some people hepatitis B is an acute, or short-term, illness but for others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection.

Symptoms of HBV may include fever, a flu-like illness and joint pains. Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination and post-exposure prophylaxis. HBV risk can also be reduced by avoiding unprotected sex, contaminated needles and other sources of infection. Hepatitis C which is also a  liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis infection, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.

Experts say the most common modes of infection are through unsafe injection practices; inadequate sterilization of medical equipment; and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products. Medically, it is revealed that although HBV and HCV might have similar modes of infection at some point, HCV is more contagious. Antiviral medicines can cure persons with hepatitis C infection, thereby reducing the risk of death from liver cancer and cirrhosis, but access to diagnosis and treatment is low because of the cost. Currently there is no vaccine for hepatitis C.