The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement that as yesterday was World Hepatitis Day it wants to provide the local population with “correct information” about hepatitis B.
The statement said that according to the 2016 Macau Health Survey, locals aged 18 or above having hepatitis B stood at 7.6 percent, adding that even though it was a 10 percent decrease compared to 2006, the bureau still wants the public to learn how to protect themselves from catching the disease.
According to the statement, hepatitis B is mainly spread from mother to baby at birth, or through contact with carriers’ blood or bodily fluid. The statement noted that usual social interaction such as dining together, shaking hands and hugging does not spread hepatitis B. The statement also said that studying or working together in business sectors such as hospitality, gaming, banking and F&B will not spread hepatitis B.
The statement noted that hepatitis B can lead to serious sickness, adding that as the virus cannot be eradicated once a person is infected with hepatitis B it will become a chronic disease. The statement underlined that there is no cure for hepatitis B, and in the long term the carrier might suffer from liver infection or even liver cancer.
The statement said that according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 90 percent of those suffering with hepatitis B caught it at birth while only 5 percent were infected when they were adults. Therefore, the statement stressed that it is important for newborns to get inoculated.
The statement said that according to the city’s vaccination plan, each infant must receive three doses of the inoculation – at birth, one month-old and six months-old. Moreover, if the mother is a hepatitis B carrier, the newborn must get hepatitis B Immunoglobulin within 24 hours after birth in order to prevent the baby from getting infected.
Besides having the vaccination, there are other ways to prevent getting hepatitis B such as using a condom, not sharing shavers, nail clippers or other objects that may easily cause injury; treating wounds properly; wearing gloves when dealing with other people’s blood; and having a blood test before getting married or giving birth.
The bureau also suggested a few ways for hepatitis B carriers to ease the situation, such as staying away from alcohol and nicotine, getting enough rest and sleep, staying optimistic, exercising, and maintaining a healthy diet.
For more information about hepatitis B, call the bureau on 2870 0800.
Poster courtesy of worldhepatitisday.org
