Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E is a relatively little-known virus and was not recognized as a distinct human disease until 1980. Although the disease appears to be present globally, it may be endemic in many parts of northern and subSaharan Africa, including Cameroon. The primary “host” for Hepatitis E (the species with whom the virus has evolved to rely on for its survival) is currently considered to be humans, although antibodies to the virus (showing us that the individual has been exposed to the virus) have been found in a variety of animals, including rodents and pigs.

Hepatitis E seems to be different from other forms of Hepatitis, such as A, B, or C, in that young adults seem to be more susceptible to infection than children. The virus poses a particular risk to pregnant women, where it can cause secondary acute liver failure, but in most young adults it is controlled naturally by the body. read more