Number of hepatitis C cases in Meerut zone reach 15,000

MEERUT: A total of 15,000 cases of hepatitis C were registered at Meerut's Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial (LLRM) Memorial Medical college, a model treatment centre declared under National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, till Thursday, officials said. "The number is increasing on a daily basis. In Syana block in Bulandshahr and Garh block of Meerut, around 60% to 70% of the population has been infected," said DR RC Gupta, principal LLRM.
Gupta added that the virus usually spreads when someone comes into contact with the blood of an infected person. "A study conducted by a team of specialists in rural areas revealed that repeated use of a shaving blade by barbers on different people is one of the causes of infection," he said.
According to Arvind Kumar, MD (medicine) at LLRM, lack of awareness is another reason for the increased number of cases. "We have advised the doctors of the primary health centre and community health centre to ensure proper screening for hepatitis C is done so that we can trace the virus inside the body in its first stage and treat it accordingly," Kumar said.