Alert Sounded After Spike in Hepatitis B, C Cases at Nandyal GGH

Kurnool: With a spike in hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus cases, the Clinical Microbiology wing at Nandyal Government General Hospital (GGH) has started offering round-the-clock hepatitis services throughout the week — the first such initiative in Andhra Pradesh.

While most government hospitals across AP allocate one or two days a week for treating viral hepatitis, Nandyal GGH is extending the services throughout the week, ensuring that patients have greater accessibility to care.

Hepatitis often remains asymptomatic in its early stages. It typically comes to light only when serious complications, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding from oesophageal varices, or hepatocellular carcinoma develop. Thus, early detection is crucial for patients.

Dr. K. Srinivas Rao, professor and head of the Clinical Microbiology department at Government Medical College, Nandyal, said they detect viral hepatitis using ELISA and immune-chromatographic methods. They estimate the viral load via RT-PCR.

“Our role doesn’t end with diagnosis. We immediately counsel patients, encourage them to bring family members for testing, assess viral loads, and provide preventive measures like vaccination to those who are uninfected,” Dr. Srinivas Rao underlined.

Globally, prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is estimated at 3–4 per cent and hepatitis C virus (HCV) at 2–3 per cent. In India, including Andhra Pradesh, the virus rates range from 1–2 per cent. Recent data specifically in Nandyal district indicates prevalence of 1.90 per cent HBV and 0.17 per cent HCV cases.

Under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, launched throughout the country by Health and Family Welfare ministry on the World Hepatitis Day (July 28) in 2018, the government aims to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 as part of its sustainable development goals.

Data from Nandyal GGH reveals that out of 51,367 people tested since 2022, 250 tested hepatitis B positive, with the highest 138 cases reported in 2024 alone. Of the 47,805 individuals tested for hepatitis C, 22 tested positive, including 13 cases in the past year.

Professor Srinivas Rao underlined that the hospital’s priority is not to alarm patients who test positive, but provide them support, counselling and pathways to recovery. “We help them manage the condition, suggest lifestyle modifications, recommend tests for their close contacts, and offer free vaccinations,” he pointed out.

If the viral load is undetectable, patients are placed under observation and monitored over a three-month period. If the viral load is significant, patients are prescribed antiviral medications, he added.