GENEVA – The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday in Geneva, issued its first-ever guidance for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and results in an estimated 650,000 deaths each year.
Leader WHO Global Hepatitis program, Stefan Wiktor, said the new guidelines, which give treatment recommendations that rely on simple, inexpensive tests, would help clinicians make the right decisions.
He said more than 240 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis B virus, with the highest rates of infection in Africa and Asia.
“People with the infection are at increased risk of dying from cirrhosis and liver cancer”, he said.
Wiktor also said the UN agency noted that there were medicines that can prevent people from developing the condition.
He said unfortunately most people who need the medicines were unable to access them or can only obtain substandard treatment.
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Wiktor said as a result of this the guideline presented simplified approach for care for people living with chronic hepatitis B, particularly in areas with limited resources.
“The guidelines recommend the use of a few simple non-invasive tests to assess the stage of liver disease to help identify who needs treatment,’’ he said. (Xinhua/NAN)
