VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Liver and Gall Association has sounded a Hepatitis C alarm, saying that more than 5 per cent of the country's population, or 4.5 million people, are infected.

The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) commonly spreads through contact with contaminated blood.

Pham Hoang Phiet, Association chairman, explained that 85 per cent of infections transformed into chronic Hepatitis C after 10 to 20 years, while 30 per cent caused serious liver problems like cirrhosis and cancer.

Dr Pham Thi Thu Thuy, head of the Liver Department at the private HCM City based Medic Medical Centre, said that, although the HCV was not as common as hepatitis B, its consequences were considerably worse.

"Hepatitis C patients made up 30 per cent of total department patients during 2010," Thuy said, adding that the total number of HCV patients coming to the department for treatment during 2011 thus far came to around 10,000.

According to Thuy, although most Hepatitis B patients could have their viruses eliminated if infected as adults (elinating the virus in children is more difficult) around 10 per cent of patients would become chronic carriers despite their age.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), unlike with HBV, there are currently no vaccines against Hepatitis C.

On its website, the WHO states that, "Although most people had few, if any symptoms, after initial infection, the virus persists in the liver in around 85 per cent of those infected," which explains why the disease is often called "the silent killer."

Many Vietnamese HCV patients cannot be fully treated due to high costs which could range from VND4 million to VND20 million (US$186-930) per month, Thuy explained, adding that, "Most patients face financial difficulties. Only the rich are able to afford treatment."

She confirmed that the time needed for treatment varied from between 24 and 72 weeks, saying that treatment was "complicated and difficult", causing a lot of side effects and recurrence.

"One of our patients sold her house in order to afford treatment – she now sleeps in her market stall," Thuy said.

Nguyen Van Khiem, a 31-year-old HCV infected worker from south-eastern Dong Nai Province, said that he could not afford the VND5 million ($240) treatment with his VND1.8 million ($86.5) salary.

Dr Vo Minh Quang, from the HCM City Tropical Hospital, said that during April the hospital had diagnosed more than 1,600 HCV infected people, most unable to afford treatment.

The hospital has called on the Ministry of Health to support HCV treatment for poor people.

According to a WHO report in March 2011, an estimated 170 million people (3 per cent of the world's population) were infected by HCV, 3 - 4 million people newly infected each year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News