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Transcript
Press Release May 19: World Hepatitis Day HEPATITIS: MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN AIDS WHO: 500 million people infected with Hepatitis B or C 1.5 mio people die annually from Hepatitis B or C1. Early detection makes the difference Hepatitis is one of the most infectious diseases throughout the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Hepatitis C is four times more frequent than HIV and AIDS and Hepatitis B is up to 100 times more contagious. According to the WHO, there are 500 million people throughout the world that live with chronic hepatitis. Out of this group, million and a half people die every year from the disease. Hepatitis produces inflammation of the liver and causes it to stop working correctly. When the disease becomes chronic (more than 6 months), it produces chronic damage that may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and even death. Hepatitis slowly and silently damages the deliver without any symptoms. The problem can be seen 20 to 25 years later after being transmitted with the virus when damage to the liver is very advanced. “The liver is a very noble organ. It must be damaged up to 75% to produce any type of symptom. When symptoms appear damage is irreversible”, explained Dr. Michael Liberman, Roche Medical Manager. The liver is a necessary organ for human life. It helps digest food, regulate hormonal levels, metabolizes drugs and alcohol. It also produces substances that fight infections and remove toxic substances from the body. 1 World Health Organization (WHO) Protect Yourself: Risk Factors: According to the World Hepatitis Alliance2 (WHA), 1 out of 12 people throughout the world is infected with one of two types of the hepatitis B or C virus. Hepatitis B as well as C may be transmitted through blood transfusions. Risk factors include: Wearing piercings, tattoos, use of intravenous drugs and contaminated needles. Anyone who received a blood transfusion before 1993 with contaminated blood. Having sexual relations without a condom or with someone who is contagious People, whose mothers had hepatitis or may be carriers. The most frequent symptoms include: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach ache, diarrhea, yellow eyes and skin, dark urine and clear feces. These symptoms appear when the disease is more advanced. “The idea is to generate awareness with early diagnosis in people that people with since prevention is the best treatment”, added Dr. Liberman. Hepatitis B has vaccine. Hepatitis C does not. Rule Out Any Suspicion: Get Examined Early! If you are at a high risk of becoming infected with hepatitis or if you think that you were exposed to the virus due to a risk factor, just take a blood test. It is a simple test that is not expensive. Many people who are infected do not know it. There is a cure for both chronic hepatitis B as and C. Treatment is through drugs that slow down or prevent the virus to damage the liver. Pegasys (Peginterferon alfa 2a (40KD)) is a drug that works effectively in both cases. It simulates a substance in the body called Interferon which acts as an immunomodulator, a regulator for the body´s immune system. It is a direct antiviral agent and directly attacks the virus and any infections. 2 www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/en/TheWHA.aspx Treatment is subcutaneous – once a week for approximately one year. It is currently dispensed by most of the health systems in the region. Chocolate protects your liver New studies reveal that eating dark after meals may considerably improve liver disorders by reducing blood pressure in the liver of cirrhosis patients and considerably improving the health of patients suffering from this disease. This data was revealed at the 45th Annual Conference of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) held in Vienna, Austria during the last week of April. According to the study, cocoa has high levels of flavones with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants have proven to attenuate sudden increases in liver pressure after eating (vasorelaxation). About Roche Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is a leader in research-focused healthcare with combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is the world’s largest biotech company with truly differentiated medicines in oncology, virology, inflammation, metabolism and central nervous system (CNS). Roche is also the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics, tissue-based cancer diagnostics and a pioneer in diabetes management. Roche’s personalized healthcare strategy aims at providing medicines and diagnostic tools that enable tangible improvements in the health, quality of life and survival of patients. In 2008, Roche had over 80,000 employees worldwide and invested almost 9 billion Swiss francs in R&D. The Roche Group posted sales of 45.6 billion Swiss francs. Genentech, United States, is a wholly owned member of the Group. Roche has a majority stake in Chugai Pharmaceutical, Japan. For more information: www.roche.com. For more information please visit www.roche.com Press contact: Erica Vega. E-mail [email protected]; +506 22981579 or +506 8823 5997. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ All trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by law.