Almost 10 per cent of Myanmar’s 51 million population has hepatitis, a nationwide survey has found.
Some 5 million people suffer from one of the forms of the virus: 3.3 million have hepatitis B and another 1.3 have hepatitis C, the Myanmar Times reported.
Both types of the virus, which affects the liver and is leading cause of cancer, are usually transmitted through contact with infected body fluids.
Researchers from the Department of Medical Research, the Department of Public Healt and the Myanmar Liver Foundation surveyed 15-80 year olds living in 18 townships across nine states and regions, including Naypyitaw.
The majority of hepatitis B sufferers (12.4 per cent) live in Yangon while the largest group of hepatitis A suffers (10.3 per cent) are in Mon state.
But t figures are thought to indicate a slight decrease in prevalence since a 2000 study.
“Effective health education and awareness-raising activities leading to prevention measures have helped reduce the risk factor,” said Aye Aye Lwin, deputy director of the Immunology Research Division at the Department of Medical Research.
