The national deputy health minister said today that he fears Hepatitis B infections are spreading without control in South Sudan.
Yatta Lori Lugor told CRN that the risks posed by Hepatitis B are serious and he has personally knew people who died from the disease.He said the disease seems to flare up in South Sudan.
Dr Lori explained that Hepatitis B can be transmitted mainly through unprotected sex and contaminated blood.
Juba Teaching Hospital Medical Director Stance Luri said there is no chance of ruling out Hepatitis B cases in the hospital but it was difficult to prove that they exist.
He explained that the blood tests carried out in the hospital are not accurate because there are no key markers to show whether the infection is recent or if the person was vaccinated.
Dr Luri said the results for Hepatitis B normally come as reactive or non reactive which mean either the person was infected, or is infected or vaccinated: it is impossible to differentiate.
Hepatitis B is a viral disease that attacks the victim’s liver.
Its transmission is similar to HIV.