Who gets hepatitis B?

In much of the developing world, (sub-Saharan Africa, most of Asia, and the Pacific), most people become infected with HBV during childhood, and 8% to 10% of people in the general population become chronically infected. In these regions liver cancer caused by HBV figures among the first three causes death by cancer in men.

High rates of chronic HBV infection are also found in the Amazon and the southern parts of Eastern and Central Europe. In the Middle East and Indian sub-continent, about 5% are chronically infected. Infection is less common in Western Europe and North America, where less than 1% are chronically infected.
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How do people get infected ?

Hepatitis B virus is transmitted by contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person in the same way as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. However, HBV is 50 to 100 times more infectious than HIV.

The main ways of getting infected with HBV are:

Perinatal (from mother to baby at the birth)
Child-to-child transmission
Unsafe injections and transfusions
Sexual contact
Worldwide, most infections occur from infected mother to child, from child to child contact in household settings, and from reuse of unsterilized needles and syringes. In many developing countries, almost all children become infected with the virus.read more

Transmission of hepatitis B

Hepatitis B forms part of the sexually transmitted diseases (STD). But, if you do not have a c?ur artichoke, will know that it can also be conveyed by blood contact following an accident, of a bleeding, a transfusion or a traumatism requiring of the care of health which could not be practised under good sanitary arrangements in certain parts of the world. Incubation can be much longer than that of hepatitis A since it is about 6 weeks in 5-6 month.
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Health Inspectors Issue Tattoo Warning In Oshawa

There's a warning to think for those who have ink - especially if you got your tattoo at the Longhorn Custom Bodyart Studio on Centre St. in Oshawa anytime between November 2006 and this month.

The Durham Region Health Authority says the possible use of non-sterile equipment at the facility could lead to the transmission of infectious diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. And they suggest you get tested to be sure. That caveat could cover as many as 2,000 people.
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Does body-piercing lead to Hepatitis?

Hepatitis is a deadly disease, which causes liver damage. It is water-borne disease and it can be also transmitted through body fluids. Hepatitis is more commonly cause by Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C viruses.
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Baltimore City Schools vaccinate students

Baltimore, MD (ABC 2 News) In just a few weeks children will head back to the classroom. Lexington Market hosted a Back To School Health Fair on Friday.
Children between two months and 18-years-old received vaccinations for school.

The Baltimore City Health Department and Baltimore City Schools provided free immunizations and lead testing for children.

These immunizations are designed to protect kids from diseases like Chicken Pox and Hepatitis B.
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Double liver transplant performed successfully

New Delhi, Aug 11: A man today got a fresh lease of life with doctors here successfully grafting liver from two donors simultaneously in a rare surgery, Sahara Samay sources said.

K.P. Appu’s surgery is the rare liver transplant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH).

Appu was suffering from Hepatitis-B for the last two-and-a-half years, making his liver shrink and become almost non-functional.
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Compass Healthcare Communications Announces Relaunch of Infergen Web Site

Infergen, or consensus interferon, is a bio-optimized, selective and highly potent type 1 interferon alpha. It is indicated as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C viral infections with compensated liver disease. Infergen is the only interferon with data in the label regarding use in patients following relapse or non-response to certain previous treatments. read more

Potential Safety Issue Identified in Ongoing Phase 2 Clinical Study of HCV-796

EXTON, Pa., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated announced today the decision made with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth , to discontinue dosing with HCV-796 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in its current Phase 2 study. All subjects, following consultation with the principal investigators at each site, will have the option of continuing on the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, the standard of care. This decision follows yesterday's review by the joint safety review board of safety data accumulated to date, which show elevated liver enzyme levels in some patients after 8 weeks or more of therapy with HCV-796 with pegylated interferon and ribavirin."This is a clear disappointment in light of the exciting antiviral activity observed to date in this study. Although this represents a potential setback for hepatitis C patients, we are committed to the health and safety of patients, and this decision was absolutely the right thing to do," commented Michel de Rosen, ViroPharma's president and chief executive officer. "We are committed to understanding the observations that led to this decision in the hope of advancing this potential therapeutic agent in the future."
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ViroPharma to end dosing in Hepatitis C drug trial

Aug 10 (Reuters) - ViroPharma Inc. said (VPHM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said it and partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Wyeth (WYE.N: Quote, Profile, Research), decided to end dosing with a drug to treat Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a mid-stage trial due to safety concerns.
Exton, Pennsylvania-based ViroPharma said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been notified that all patients on triple therapy will now be maintained on only pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the remainder of the clinical study.
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