Hepatitis B kills two in Maracha

Ailment. Several people are reportedly infected by the disease.

Hepatitis B has broken out in Maracha District, killing two people, health officials have said.

Several people infected by the disease are admitted at various health centres across the district.

The worst affected sub-counties are Olufe and Yivu. District authorities have embarked on massive sensitisation campaign about the disease.
Health officials said efforts to stop the spread of the disease is being hindered by people’s ignorance on its causes and how it spreads.

The District Health Officer, Mr Ronald Ocatre, told Daily Monitor: “ I can confirm the two cases. One case involved a 10-year-old child while the other was an adult.”

Mr Ocatre said district authorities did not have the money to carry out vaccination.

The Minister of Health, Dr Christine Ondoa, said: “It is a very dangerous disease which is even more deadly than HIV/Aids. So if our communities can behave responsibly and seek treatment at the earliest time, it would be a good health practice.”
Between 2011/12, 49 cases of Hepatitis B were registered. About five people were killed by the disease.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com