Outbreak of Hepatitis E Virus in Bangladesh

Rifat Zafreen :
HEV is Hepatitis E Virus, which is one of the five known viral hepatitis caused by Hepatitis E virus. This HEV spreads usually through faucal contamination of drinking water.
At least four people lost their lives due to HEV infection in the last few months and thousands are still suffusing from HEV in a large part of Chittagong city. This water-borne epidemic has thus challenged the capacity of supplying safe drinking water and maintaining sewerage system there, which is the second most important metropolis of Bangladesh with a population of more than 2.5 million people. Such big number of people thus has become exposed to an HEV outbreak. Hundreds of patients are being diagnosed with HEV infection in different parts of Chittagong. According to the office of the civil surgeon, Chittagong, 99 new patients had been identified with HEV infection on July 2 this year and on July 1, this number was 125. From May 1, 2018 till July 2, 2018 the total number of patients infect by HEV was 848. This is alarming and worrisome.
Presence of faucal substance in water causes this. Worn out and rusty sewerage or drinking water pipes lead to have this substance and more of, if these pipes remain uncovered in the trench for at least two months and if all kinds of waste, run off water and dirt fell on those pipes and if these pipes are not leak proof, supplied drinking water gets contaminated easily and badly. In this situation water means death without any second option.
If the drinking water supply system is very old and if the pipelines are age old, rusty pipes may leak frequently. And while these pipes need to get repaired by digging open trench contaminated water gets in to the water supply system very easily and without any hurdles. Poor drainage system can also lead to get any area submerged and during rainy session or time of high tide, this can mix polluted water with drinking water through open trenches and rusty pipelines.
It is so must develop a systematic sewerage and drainage system and it is must especially for the HEV affected and risk prone area. As water logging is also responsible for this contamination this has to be solved to get over the dilapidated HEV epidemic situation. It needs font action as this shabby condition may spread any water borne infectious diseases like wild fire.
The incubation period of HEV is 45-60 days. The first symptoms so thus start to appear 45-60 days after catching the infection. Many people may take primary treatments of fever, diarrhea or jaundice with the exposure of HEV infection symptoms. In order to stop this epidemic, there needs huge and strong initiative both from the government and from other organizations. A coordinated effort is must. There has to have list of the people died from HEV infection. Necessary steps have to be taken sharp to handle and tackle the situation. People need also to be aware of the ‘not doings’ that cause HEV infection. All these can stop any epidemic and especially HEV epidemic situation.
People should not drink water without boiling it for 30 minutes. They should not drink uncovered juices, ‘sherbets’ from street food vendour. If one’s eyes seem yellowish, if one suffers from fever or diarrhea for more than three days, one must see doctor to get away from HEV infection.
Media can play a very vital and strong role to get over this and stop any epidemic situation. Both Print, electronic and social media can publish feature, article or broadcast programs to aware people regarding HEV infection. Teachers, local leaders, religious leaders also can help stop this epidemic. Our awareness and sincere combined effort can only help overcome HEV infection and epidemic and so forth.
(PID Project Feature)