Hepatitis B and C kill 1.5 million people worldwide annually even though a very effective vaccine
against the virus has been available for the last three decades, experts said at an awareness campaign here on Tuesday.
Many do not know that though cancer and AIDS are known killers, the Hepatitis-B virus is 100 times more infectious than the HIV, said Gastroenterology and Hepatology HoD at the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital (IMSSH) Dr Manoj Kumar Sahu on the occasion of the World Hepatitis Day.
Hepatitis B and C are more virulent infections and destroy the liver. But a vaccine against the infection
is available since 1982 that has an outstanding record of safety and effectiveness, said Dr Sahu addressing the Scout and Guide cadets at the Odisha State Scouts and Guides Headquarters here.
The awareness campaign was jointly organised by the IMSSH and State Scouts and Guides. sAmong others, former Judge Manoranjan Mohanty also spoke.