Presentation on theme: "National policy on Hepatitis B at the Workplace"— Presentation transcript:

1 National policy on Hepatitis B at the Workplace

Press conference

17 November 2009

2 Hepatitis B

What is it?

Hep B is a serious disease caused by a virus that infects the liver

Can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (liver scarring), liver cancer, liver failure and death

3 Geographical distribution

HBsAg Prevalence

³8% - High

2-7% - Intermediate

<2% - Low

36

4 Hepatitis B Incubation period

60-90 days on average (range days)

infectious weeks before getting ill and for variable period after acute infection

chronic carriers remain infectious

5 Hepatitis B Symptoms Nausea Loss of appetite Vomiting Fatigue Fever

Dark urine

Pale stool

Jaundice
Stomach pain

Side pain

A person may have all, some or none of these

6 Hepatitis B Infections

Asymptomatic Cases 50%

Symptomatic Cases 50%

Clear Virus; Healthy 90-94%

Death 0.05%

Hepatitis B Chronic Carriers 6-10%

Chronic Liver Disease

Death from Cirrhosis 1.7%

Death-Primary Liver Cancer 0.4%

7 Hepatitis B transmission

How do you get it?

Direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person

sharing injection equipment

sex

baby from infected mother during childbirth

Hepatitis B is not spread by food, water or casual contact

8 Hepatitis B carriers Who is a carrier of Hep B virus?

Some people with Hep B never fully recover from the infection (chronic infection)

They still carry the virus and can infect others for the rest of their lives
9 Hepatitis B prevention

Hepatitis B vaccine:

Safe

Effective: >90% of recipient become immune

Recommended for workers with jobs where exposure to blood might happen

Mandatory for

10 Hepatitis B policy

11 Employer responsibilities

Ensure safe and healthy working conditions for employees who may be exposed to blood or body fluids

Risk assessment

Vaccination

Protective equipment

Medical care for exposure incidents

12 Employee responsibilities

Ethical & legal obligations to safeguard their health and that of their clients

If they have any reasons to believe they may have been exposed to infection with a blood-borne virus
including HBV, should promptly seek & comply with confidential professional advice

13 Hepatitis B policy: risk categories

High

Significant risk of acquiring HB from others

Potential to spread HB if a carrier

Intermediate

Low

Potential risk of acquiring HB from others

Negligible

14 Hepatitis B policy: action requirements

High

Must receive HB vaccine and do immunity test

If immunity test negative, tested for HB virus

If found to be a carrier, cannot perform exposure prone procedures

Intermediate

Low

Encouraged to receive HB vaccine and do immunity test

Negligible

HB vaccine after risk assessment