LAGOS – A medical researcher, Dr Rosemary Audu, said on Wednesday that using protective kit and practicing standard hygiene could prevent Hepatitis B Virus infection (HBV) among health workers.
Audu, who is the Head, Human Virology Laboratory at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The researcher said the advice became necessary because of the health workers’ constant exposure to blood and other bodily fluids of the sick.
“Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease.[eap_ad_2]
“The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person.
“It is an important occupational hazard for health workers. It is required that health workers are screened and those who tested negative are vaccinated.
“HBV can survive outside the body for at least seven days and it is infectious.
“So, for those health workers, if we do not practice universal basic precaution, one can get infected. The incubation period is on the average of 75 days.
“Do you know your status? Please go get tested.
“Screening and vaccination of health workers is a standard practice that every health worker should be screened and vaccinated for the prevention of HBV infection.“
Audu also urged hospital managements to enforce the use of protective kit and the adoption of standard hygiene practices among health workers.(NAN)[eap_ad_3]