The source of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection at Ooramana has been found to be unsafe injections that the people received in 2011.
A study conducted by Manipal Virus Research Centre said that inadequate hygiene and infection control practices at barbershops also led to the spread of the disease.
An inspection of instruments collected from barber shops showed presence of HBV. It also said that endoscopic examinations in hospitals are also risk factors for acquiring HBV infection.
The study was mandated by the State government following the uncontrolled increase in the number of HBV cases reported from the area. The Manipal Centre in the two-phase findings revealed here on Sunday at a press meet said that the HBV infection was possibly introduced into the population prior to 2011 and that it reached an outbreak threshold in late 2011 and early 2012.
The findings also said that currently the transmission is occurring horizontally in the households and neighbourhoods and hence the number of cases exponentially increased in the past few months.
After the first phase of the study, the Manipal Centre had recommended immunising the susceptible population to break the transmission so that the number of new cases would come down.
The second phase of the study has recommended strengthening of infection control practices in the hospitals catering to the study area and also in the district. As there are a large number of asymptomatic HBV carriers in the area, the neighbouring health care institutions including dental clinics and clinical laboratories should have 100 per cent compliance in infection control practices, said G. Arun Kumar, who headed the research team from Manipal.
The study revealed that the number of HBV carriers is 78 — 22 p.c. of the total infected. The number of people who had recovered from the HBV infection and cleared the virus is 177 (51 p.c.). Nearly 50 p.c. of the HBV infected were between 41 and 60 years and there were marginally more infected males than females. The number of children infected was 19 (5.9 p.c.). Most of these infections had occurred within two months and had completed regular HBV immunisation.
As none of the mothers are HBV there was no vertical transmission, said Dr. Arun Kumar.
