Qatar’s Health Ministry has decided to closely examine all unspecified hepatitis cases and specify their nature as part of proper disease prevention and treatment, reported the Gulf Times on Thursday.
Currently, some hepatitis cases have been listed under the “unspecified” category, which, the department said, is adversely affecting disease prevention and treatment.
Ministry officials will lead a workshop in Doha next month, focusing on all unspecified hepatitis cases.
Reports of unspecified hepatitis cases has been increasing since 1999, said the paper.
In 1999, four such cases were reported, and five appeared in 2000. But 25 such cases have already been reported so far this year.
A ministry source told the paper that “though tracking down viruses might be difficult in some cases, it must be done in the interests of the society.”
“The unspecified list may contain some cases which are serious in nature. Unless the nature of the disease is known, prevention or treatment cannot be done properly,” he said.
He said Qatar had proper notification, preventive measures, and treatment procedures for hepatitis A, B and C.
In the January-July period of 1999, some 105 Hepatitis A cases were reported, 28 in 2000 and 10 in 2001 to date.
The number of hepatitis B cases in 1999 was nine. There were 43 in 2000 and 50 cases so far in 2001, the paper said.
The number of hepatitis C cases in 1999 was seven; there were four in 2000 and 16 have been reported in 2001 – Albawaba.com
