(a) whether Hepatitis B has emerged as a bigger problem than AIDS in India;
(b) if so, whether India is world`s second largest pool of carriers of the
lethal disease;
(c) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of cases detected, State-
wise; and
(d) the strategy chalked out by the Government to check the alarming rise of
Hepatitis B in the country?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 218 FOR 7TH
DECEMBER, 2005.
According to Indian Council of Medical Research, Hepatitis B infection is
several times more infectious than AIDS. India has the second largest pool of
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers in the world (next to China) and contributes to
nearly 15% of the entire pool of HBV carriers in the world.
While separate data of Hepatitis B cases is not centrally maintained, State-
wise number of cases due to Viral Hepatitis including Hepatitis B as reported by
Central Bureau of Health Intelligence during the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
and 2004 is annexed.
Hepatitis B spreads through unsafe sex, unsafe blood transfusion, unsafe
injection etc. and also from mother to child. Hepatitis B is preventable by
ensuring precautionary measures. The Government has launched a pilot project of
immunization of Hepatitis B free of cost for children below one year only.
Hepatitis B vaccination has commenced and is continuing in 15 cities since 2002-
03 and in 32 districts and Andaman and Nicobar Islands since 2003-04.
While the general health care delivery system in the country is well
equipped to handle various diseases, Hepatitis B is effectively tackled through
preventive measures including vaccination. The following measures have been
taken to prevent infection of Hepatitis B: -
# Central Government Hospitals personnel at high risk are being immunised
against Hepatitis B. State Governments have also been advised to take similar
steps.
# Guidelines have been issued for mandatory testing of blood in blood banks.
# Promotion of safe sex under National AIDS Control Programme is advocated.
# Health awareness campaigns regarding dangers of using non-sterile syringes
and needles under National AIDS Control Programme are held.
# Guidelines have been issued to State Health Authorities for use of separate
sterile syringes and needles for each injection.
Vaccine for Hepatitis B is available in the country at affordable prices.
ANNEXURE
State-wise cases and deaths due to Viral Hepatitis reported during 2000-2004
S. State/U.T. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 No Cases Deaths Cases Deaths Cases Deaths Cases Deaths Cases DeathsSource: CBHI, Ministry of Health & F.W.
1. Andhra 27595 114 24530 38 16224 19 23094 110 28222 72 Pradesh 2. Aruanchal N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 621 2 299 7 N.R. N.R. Pradesh 3. Assam N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 4. Bihar N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R.. N.R.. N.R. 5. Chhatt # # N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. isgarh 6. Goa 229 0 124 0 71 0 190 0 94 0 7 Gujarat 3982 30 3891 21 2365 22 2752 15 5860 26 8. Haryana 1086 6 2731 10 1085 9 1645 9 1978 136 9. Himachal 1464 1 1275 0 1648 1 1924 1 2359 0 Pradesh 10. Jammu & 6171 0 4226 0 6245 0 8432 0 8398 0 Kashmir 11. Jharkhand # # N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 12. Karnataka 24571 91 26256 189 32215 161 24954 108 46659 228 13. Kerala 5521 8 4532 6 5323 7 7433 9 5405 2 14 Madhya 6620 11 3267 10 6112 32 9599 25 15859 28 Pradesh 15. Maharashtra 40962 244 39911 234 29525 101 33515 118 48789 150 16. Manipur 728 7 1558 0 426 0 310 0 310 0 17. Meghalaya 301 1 500 0 472 1 419 1 764 1 18. Mizoram 943 2 1193 11 1164 9 744 8 717 2 19. Nagaland 408 0 144 0 157 0 127 0 27 0 20. Orissa 14011 107 7334 38 715 48 2500 39 2446 40 21. Punjab 1796 1 4881 19 6652 26 5169 22 1536 6 22. Rajasthan 1601 39 2955 89 1758 36 2076 39 2272 53 23. Sikkim 594 5 409 1 322 2 414 2 372 5 24. TamilNadu 1740 4 1632 1 3177 2 6476 2 11261 7 25. Tripura 113 8 1784 9 105 2 242 3 1187 0 26. Uttar 988 24 1885 14 N.R. N.R. 2964 1 2 1 Pradesh 27. Uttaranchal # # N.R. N.R. 5431 13 N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 28. West Bengal 5831 157 6303 265 7032 264 6527 198 6771 212 29. A&N Islands 252 8 536 2 698 8 467 12 258 2 30. Chandigarh 219 3 310 8 451 5 398 11 300 1 31. D&N Haveli N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 232 0 227 0 675 3 32. Daman & Diu 41 0 6 0 24 0 23 1 6 0 33. Delhi 4077 162 6374 164 5053 139 7476 262 10656 143 34 Lakshadweep 258 0 71 1 22 0 19 0 20 1 35. Pondicherry 932 5 654 9 534 5 872 3 736 2 Total 153034 1038 149262 1147 135859 914 151287 1006 203939 1122