UPPER DIR: Hepatitis-E is spreading rapidly in Almas area of Ashiri Darra in Upper Dir and over 60 patients have been diagnosed with the disease during the last one month.
Those diagnosed with Hepatitis-E also include women and children. The local people have expressed grave concern over the outbreak of the epidemic and called upon the government to send health teams to the area to stop the disease from further spreading.
The area people said Hepatitis-E has affected almost every home in the area and most of the patients are women. They said the area residents have stopped the use of water available from pipelines and they are now using water from streams, but still the disease is spreading rapidly.
A local person said while talking to TNN that five members of his family have been infected. He said he has no idea how and from what source the disease is spreading so quickly. He said most people in Almas are poor and they cannot afford expensive treatment. He said an infected patient needs to be shifted to Timergara where the treatment cost ranges from Rs10,000 to Rs15,000. He called upon the government to take immediate steps to stop the spread of disease in the area.
Regional Health Centre (RHC) Incharge Dr Riazullah said Hepatitis spreads from polluted water and stool of infected patients. He said the water of the whole area is polluted due to lack of proper sewerage system due to which the disease is spreading quickly. He advised the area people to use boiled water for consumption.
Hepatitis-E is virus infection that infects a patient’s liver causing it to swell up. According to WebMD, a leading health information website, usually Hepatitis-E doesn’t lead to long-term illness or liver damage like some other forms of hepatitis. However, it can be dangerous for pregnant women or anyone with weak immune systems, including the elderly or people who are ill.
Hepatitis-E is more common in areas with poor hand-washing habits and lack of clean water. Main symptoms include fever, low appetite, belly pain, skin rash, joint pain and yellowish skin or eyes. An infected patient must consume more water, eat healthy foods and take rest.
