Write the preventive measures of hepatitis-b and also mention its occurance
Answers
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes life-threatening liver disease. It is transmitted through a horizontal route or a mother-to-infant route, and the latter is the major route in endemic areas. Prevention of HBV infection by immunization is the best way to eliminate HBV-related diseases. The HBV vaccine is the first human vaccine using a viral antigen from infected persons, which is safe and effective. Either passive immunization by hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) or active immunization by HBV vaccine is effective, and a combination of both yields the best efficacy in preventing HBV infection. The impact of universal HBV immunization is huge, with 90%–95% effectiveness in preventing chronic HBV infection. It is the first cancer preventive vaccine with a protective efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of ∼70%. Nevertheless, further effort is still needed to avoid vaccine failure and to increase the global coverage rate.
For hepatitis B, prevention is more effective than therapy. Despite the progress of antiviral therapy against HBV to suppress viral replication and to reduce complications in those with chronic hepatitis B, a cure for infection is still not possible. Hence, prevention of HBV infection by immunization is the best way to eliminate HBV-related diseases (Chen 2009). The development of an HBV vaccine using HBsAg protein from HBV carriers as the immunogen to induce anti-HBs, the protective antibody against HBV infection, is a successful pioneer in the history of vaccine development. During the past three decades, it is proved to be safe and successful in protecting people from HBV infection and the related diseases worldwide.
Nevertheless, there are problems that hinder the success of HBV prevention globally. Looking back at the history of the development of the HBV vaccine and immunization strategies and exploring the existing problems might help to eliminate HBV-related diseases.