Hepatitis poses a fresh threat to blood bank

Symptoms

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Dark urine
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain.

Source: World Health Organisation

The national blood transfusion service is happy about the declining HIV levels in donated blood but is worried by a new threat from hepatitis, a liver-damaging virus.

The decrease in HIV levels in donated blood is attributed to better awareness among donors and decreasing infection rates in Kenya.

“Over the years, we have noted a downward trend in the prevalence of HIV and syphilis among blood donors.

However, we are concerned by an upward trend in hepatitis B and C,” says Dr Margaret Oduor, the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service director.

Infected body fluids

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection and can be fatal. There are five main hepatitis viruses — types A, B, C, D and E but the most prevalent in Kenya are B and C.

Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingesting contaminated food or water while B, C and D usually occur due to contact with infected body fluids. Hepatitis B is also transmitted through sexual contact.

Dr Oduor said while marking the World Hepatitis Day on Wednesday that her agency was worried about the new threat.

Dr Fredrick Okoth of the Kenya Medical Research Institute said the area worst hit by hepatitis is Turkana, with rates reaching up to 30 per cent. Central Kenya has the lowest rates, at about three per cent.

Dr Joseph Wang’endo, the executive director of the Bloodlink Foundation, says an effective hepatitis vaccine is available in the country.

The vaccine was incorporated in the national childhood immunisation programme in 2001, meaning those born before then are not protected.

“It is important to vaccinate food handlers and health care workers routinely to make sure they do not infect others,” says Dr Wang’endo.

Medical workers also recommend the vaccination of adolescents before they become sexually active as this is a major transmission mode.