Hepatitis up in Laguna this semester

The states of Coahuila and Durango have seen an increase in hepatitis C cases in the first six and a half months of this year compared to the same period in 2022.

In terms of infectious diseases, the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (Sinave) announced that from January to July 15, 2023, Coahuila reported 55 new cases of hepatitis C, of ​​which 47 were males and 8 were females . From January to July 16, 2022, the figure was 40 people diagnosed with the disease; 39 men and 1 woman.

In the first six and a half months of this year, there were 23 new cases of hepatitis C in Durango, including 15 males and 8 females. Between January and July 16, 2022, there were 11 new cases of hepatitis C in Durango, including 10 men and 1 woman.

Nationwide, there were 2,087 new cases in six and a half months this year, of which 1,530 were confirmed in men and 557 in women. From January to July 16, 2022, a total of 1,849 new cases were reported, including 1,352 males and 497 females.

Hepatitis C is the fifth leading cause of primary care in the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), although it is sometimes diagnosed when patients develop complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. In 2022, a total of 469,581 rapid hepatitis C tests were carried out, of which 2,150 were positive, and 1,992 patients were admitted. According to Zoé Robledo, Director General of IMSS, 95% of patients who have completed treatment are now cured. He explained that there are vaccines to prevent hepatitis A and B; as far as hepatitis C is concerned, the social security and health departments provide effective and free treatment, which can achieve fundamental improvement of the disease, and even cure it.

“It is important to understand these testing campaigns, and IMSS experts say that multiple measures can be taken to prevent infection: do not share items for personal use that come into contact with blood or bodily secretions, get tattooed or pierced where it can be determined that the material is sterile, “He said.

He added that risky sex should be avoided and if exposure to any factors is found, go to the Unit of Family Medicine (UMF) PreventIMSS service and request a rapid hepatitis C test.