Why in the News?

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is considering adding the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) to the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

About Hepatitis A:

Overview: Viral infection caused by Hepatitis A Virus (HAV), spreading through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person.
Nature of Disease: Leads to acute liver inflammation with fever, jaundice, nausea, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
Treatment: No antiviral therapy; illness is self-limiting and recovery occurs within six months with supportive care.
Vaccine: Highly effective (90 to 95 percent), long-lasting immunity for 15 to 20 years or lifelong; prevents symptomatic infection.
Current Trend: Improved sanitation lowers childhood exposure, but adult susceptibility is rising, increasing disease severity.

Launch and Evolution: Started in 1985; later integrated with Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (1992) and National Rural Health Mission (2005).
Coverage: Provides free vaccines against 12 diseases– 9 nationally (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Hib) and 3 in selected states (Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Pneumonia, Japanese Encephalitis).
Achievements: Played a central role in polio eradication, reducing measles deaths, and improving child survival indicators.

Greater Adult Severity: Shift from childhood to adult infections results in higher rates of acute liver failure.
Recent Outbreaks: Reported surges in Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh signal a widening public-health risk.
Falling Immunity: Seroprevalence has declined from around 90 percent to under 60 percent in many cities, leaving millions unprotected.
Indigenous Vaccine: Biovac-A (Biological E Ltd.) is safe, affordable, and effective, with single-dose protection simplifying rollout.
No Resistance Concerns: Viral disease with no antibiotic use eliminates resistance challenges.
Cost Advantage: More economical and operationally easier than multi-dose vaccines like typhoid conjugate vaccine.
Policy Relevance: Inclusion in the national programme could curb outbreaks and reduce adult liver-failure cases.

What is it: Liver inflammation from viruses, alcohol, toxins, drugs, autoimmune disorders, or metabolic issues.
Viral Types:
- A – Fecal-oral; acute; vaccine available.
- B – Blood/body fluids; chronic risk; vaccine available.
- C – Blood-to-blood; often chronic; no vaccine; treatable with antivirals.
- D – Discussed above.
- E – Fecal-oral; usually acute.
Chronic B, C, D: Major drivers of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Prevention: Vaccination (A, B), safe injections, screened blood, safe sex, good hygiene.

[UPSC 2019] Which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) Hepatitis B virus is transmitted much like HIV.

(b) Hepatitis B, unlike Hepatitis C, does not have a vaccine. *

(c) Globally, the number of people infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses are several times more than those infected with HIV.

(d) Some of those infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses do not show the symptoms for many years.