HepB proves more prevalent than previously thought in HK

StephenW

HepB proves more prevalent than previously thought      One in every five Hong Kong people are carriers of Hepatitis B, a disease that without proper treatment carries a high risk of turning into liver cancer, the number three killer cancer in the city, the local medical group AsiaHep Hong Kong said on Friday.      
        AsiaHep's mission is to improve recognition of the disease. In that pursuit, the organization provided free Hepatitis B tests to 1,942 people in July, 2011. The results show that 413 people tested positive for the HepB virus, and became identified as carriers of the disease. Among the 413 carriers, about 30 percent needed further assessment or treatment. Nancy Leung Wai-yee, chairwoman of AsiaHep Hong Kong, described the finding as "unexpected and surprising".        
          "When we first started the free testing, we were expecting that there would be 200 people identified as carriers at the most. However, the number proved to be double that and we have to spend more time to finish the tests," said Leung.         
            The survey also found that half of the carriers have found out they are infected with the virus years ago in making blood donations or undergoing physical check ups.            
              Since Hepatitis B has no obvious symptoms, many carriers take the wrong message and believe they don't need treatment or even regular check-ups, missing critical opportunities for therapy, said Leung.              
                Leung explained that one out of five chronic hepatitis B patients, without timely treatment, will die of liver cancer, liver cirrhosis or other related complications.               
                  According to statistics from the Cancer Registry of the Hospital Authority, in 2009, 1,488 people died from liver cancer, accounting for 11 percent of death from all cancers. And 90 percent of liver cancer cases were caused by the Hepatitis B virus.                  
                    The statistics also show that liver cancer is more likely to kill a man than a woman. Among the 1,488 death, 1,072 were men. Liver cancer was ranked as the number two cancer killer for men. On average, about 1,500 men die from liver cancer every year.                    
                      Leung said in addition to male hormones, men's consumption habits, such as drinking alcohol may contribute to the revelation of liver cancer.                     
                        Echoing Leung's opinion, Michael Li Kin-kong, chief of the division of Gastroenterology of the New Territories West Cluster under the Hospital Authority, said Hong Kong people tend to ignore the risk of Hepatitis B.                        
                          Li said among the 400,000 to 500,000 carriers in Hong Kong, only half are receiving treatment. Li also dismissed the belief that Hepatitis B can be transmitted through food, saying that the virus is mostly contagious through blood or body fluid, especially through pregnancy.                          
                            Li said though the saliva contains some virus, it is less likely to be transmitted through saliva.                           
                              [email protected]
(HK Edition 07/28/2012 page1)                              

StephenW

乙肝证明普遍比以前认为，在每五个香港人是乙型肝炎带菌者，疾病，如果不进行适当的治疗，高风险的转变成肝癌，在城市第三杀手癌症，当地的医疗组AsiaHep香港上周五表示。
        AsiaHep的使命是，以提高对该病的认识。在这种追求中，该组织提供免费的B型肝炎测试，以在2011年7月的1,942人。结果表明，413人乙肝病毒检测阳性，并成为被确定为疾病的携带者。在413运营商中，约30％，需要进一步评估或治疗。南希梁伟仪，的AsiaHep香港女主席，形容为“意外和惊讶”的发现。
          然而，“当我们第一次开始免费测试，我们预计将有200人被确定为运营商在最。数量证明是两倍，我们不得不花费更多的时间来完成测试，”梁说。
            调查还发现，一半的运营商已经发现了他们感染病毒年前在献血或接受身体检查。
              梁
说，由于B型肝炎没有明显症状，许多运营商采取了错误的消息，并相信他们并不需要治疗，甚至定期检查，错过治疗的关键机会。
                梁解释五个慢性乙型肝炎患者没有及时治疗，会死于肝癌，肝硬化或其他有关的并发症。
                  根据医院管理局癌病资料统计，在2009年，1488人死于肝癌，占所有癌症死亡的11％。和90％的肝癌病例是由乙型肝炎病毒引起的。
                    统计还显示，肝癌是比女人更容易杀死一个人。其中的1488死亡，1072名男性。肝癌被评为两个男性癌症杀手。约1500人，平均每年死于肝癌。
                      在梁说，除了男性荷尔蒙，男性的消费习惯，如饮酒，可能有助于肝癌的启示。
                        赞同梁议员的意见，迈克尔·李健香港，根据医院管理局新界西联网分工消化科主任说，香港人往往忽略了B型肝炎的风险
                          李说，40万至50万间在香港的运营商中，只有一半正在接受治疗。李还驳回，乙肝可以通过食物传播的信念，他说，这种病毒主要是通过血液或体液，特别是通过怀孕，传染性。
                            李说，虽然唾液中含有一些病毒，它是不太可能通过唾液传染。
                              [email protected]
（香港版2012年7月28日第1页）

rocgao

政府和医疗机构足够重视就有希望。

rocgao

政府和医疗机构足够重视就有希望。