Partners-in-crime: HIV and Hepatitis B Virus

Friday, 20 December 2013, 8:37 pm
Press Release: Citizen News Service

Partners-in-crime: HIV and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

Bobby Ramakant, Citizen News Service – CNS


AIDS is just one of the manifestations of HIV, said a veteran health advocate. A range of co-infections and co-morbidities also need as much attention as AIDS-related treatment and care. HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection was in spotlight at the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013). HBV is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease. Mode of transmission of HBV and HIV both are similar: they get transmitted through contact with the blood or other body fluids with high viral load of an infected person. About 600,000 people die every year due to the consequences of HBV.

HBV like HIV presents an elevated risk of occupational exposure to healthcare workers. The silver lining is that HBV is preventable with the currently available safe and effective vaccine, said Dr SK Guha, Professor, Department of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, who was speaking at the 6th National Conference of AIDS Society of India (ASICON 2013).



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