DUSHANBE, January 10, Asia-Plus – According to the statistical data of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, 188 new cases of hepatitis were reported in Tajikistan last year, bringing the total number of people infected with all types of hepatitis to 10,200.

“Meanwhile, the number of people infected with hepatitis B and C considerably decreased last year as compared with 2012,” Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection, Navrouz Jaffarov, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the main reason for decrease in the number of people infected with hepatitis B and C is improvement of medical services provided to the population.

“In Dushanbe alone, 1,270 people contracted hepatitis A last year,” the deputy minister noted.

Dushanbe resident, who wanted to remain unnamed, has noted that she was recently infected with hepatitis C at dental polyclinic.  “I can prove that I got the infection from poorly sterilized dental equipment,” said she.  “I am a blood donor and when I was giving blood recently, they said that I contracted hepatitis C.”

She assures that 142 people infected with hepatitis C have been registered with their district polyclinic alone.

Meanwhile, according to the statistical data from the Ministry of health and Social Protection, 245 new cases of hepatitis B (30 cases fewer than in 2012) and 66 cases of hepatitis C (13 cases fewer than in 2012) were registered in Tajikistan last year.

Navrouz Jaffarov confirms that they have received many complaints from people that they contracted hepatitis at dental polyclinics.

“But it should be noted that the incubation period (the time between initial contact with the virus and the onset of the disease) for hepatitis B and C ranges from 45 days to 6 months and it is practically asymptomatic.  Some patients applied in a week after visiting dentist, complaining that they contacted the infection at dental office,” the deputy minister said.  He proposed that people should undergo a blood test before visiting dental clinics.

The dangerous disease management specialist from the Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision, Ms. Sabohat Ahmadbekova, also considers that hepatitis C infection is frequently spread by poorly sterilized medical equipment.    

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).  The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure, liver cancer or life-threatening esophageal and gastric varices.

HCV is spread primarily by blood-to-blood contact associated with intravenous drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment and transfusions.  An estimated 150–200 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. The existence of hepatitis C (originally identifiable only as a type of non-A non-B hepatitis) was postulated in the 1970s and proven in 1989.  Hepatitis C infects only humans and chimpanzees.  The virus persists in the liver in about 85% of those infected. This persistent infection can be treated with medication.  Overall, 50–80% of people treated are cured.  No vaccine against hepatitis C is available.

The incubation period (the time between initial contact with the virus and the onset of the disease) for hepatitis C ranges from 2 weeks to 6 months, most commonly 6 to 9 weeks.