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Hepatitis C on the move 丙型肝炎在遷移

(added on 2008/11/07)

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Hepatitis C is an RNA virus that is commonly spread through needle sharing in heroin users. The virus mutates as it spreads from one place to another. Genotype 1 and 3 are common in South and South East Asia. Genotype 6 is unique as it is found mostly in South East Asia including Hong Kong. The genotypic pattern of hepatitis C somehow reflects the epidemiology of heroin addiction, but there are still many gaps in our knowledge as to why one genotype should predominate in a specific location.

丙型肝炎是由一種RNA病毒感染所致的傳染病，主要在吸食海洛英人群中因共用針具而傳播，情況十分普遍。丙型肝炎病毒在傳播的同時，往往發生基因突變，形成各種基因型。當中的一和三型在亞洲相當流行，而六型則幾乎祇在東南亞傳播，特別是包括了香港。丙型肝炎基因型的分佈反映了注射海洛英的流行情況，不過至今仍未有確實數據解釋何以一些基因型會在某地方較為流行。

Hepatitis C 丙型肝炎

What is Hepatitis C? 什麼是丙型肝炎？

Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Acute infection often goes unnoticed. A majority of acutely infected hepatitis C patients go on to develop chronic diseases. Some patients might develop liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, or even liver cancer.
丙型肝炎是病毒性肝炎之一，由丙型肝炎病毒引起。急性丙型肝炎一般沒有病癥，但是發展為慢性肝炎的為數不少。丙型肝炎可導致肝臟纖維化，部分患者更可發展至肝硬化，甚至肝癌。

How does it spread? 如何傳播？

Hepatitis C is transmitted by blood, for example, through contaminated blood products, and needle sharing among intravenous drug users.
丙型肝炎是一種經血液傳播的疾病。輸入受感染的血液製品或吸毒者共用針筒,都可能會引致丙型肝炎。

Vaccine? Prevention? 如何預防？

In Hong Kong, as in many countries around the world, blood and blood products are screened in a stringent manner to prevent any potentially contaminated products from being used in patients. Currently no vaccine is available. Avoidance of needle sharing and the use of clean needles can protect drug users from acquiring HCV infection.
香港和很多其它國家一樣，血液和血製品都經過嚴格的丙型肝炎篩選，藉以防止病毒傳播。到目前為止，並沒有疫苗可預防丙型肝炎感染。避免共用針筒和使用清潔的針具均可以減低吸毒者感染丙型肝炎。