20m Nigerians infected with hepatitis virus — Expert

Bauchi—No fewer than 20 million people are infected with Hepatitis virus in Nigeria, Bauchi-based Gastroenterologist of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Dr Mustapha Umar, has said.

Dr Umar, who stated this in an interview in Bauchi yesterday, as part of activities lined up to mark this year’s Hepatitis Week, said 3.6 million people were currently infected with the virus in Bauchi State.

He said the disease could be contacted through contact with unsterilized blood carrying the virus and urged members of the public to ensure that they got vaccinated to avoid being infected.
“The hepatitis disease has become very worrisome because current reports show that over 400 million people are being infected with the virus worldwide.”
“Children, especially the new born child, are supposed to vaccinated to prevent contacting the virus. Once they are immunized, their bodies will develop anti-bodies that will fight the disease,” he said
Dr. Umar urged  pregnant women to ensure they attended regular antenatal services to prevent their unborn child from contacting the virus.