India: HCV infection in hemodialysis patients raises concerns

AURANGABAD: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which is an important pathogen causing liver disease is becoming a major public health problem, with an estimated 25% to 40% prevalence in India. Raising concern over the issue, experts said patients on multiple blood transfusions have a high risk for HCV due to the involvement of multiple routes of infections, especially poor blood screening of blood and low standard of dialysis procedures.

They were speaking at a workshop at Dattaji Bhale blood bank, organised by the Aurangabad Thalassemia Society to create awareness about thalassemia on Friday.

Mahendrasingh H Chauhan, medical director and in charge of the blood bank said that high prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported among dialysis patients throughout the world. Serious efforts need to be taken to investigate HCV in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment who are at great risk to HCV infection.

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