The SAPS Safety, Health Environment (S.H.E) Management Section in cooperation with GlaxoSmithKline South Africa and SMT Medical Supplies, recently arranged for SAPS employees working at the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria to be vaccinated against hepatitis B. The vaccination programme was done as a preamble to Hepatitis Day which is held on 16 July.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are the most common viral infections that cause hepatitis in South Africa and other parts of the world. Hepatitis is a life-threatening inflammation of the liver. Both hepatitis A and B are highly contagious.

How serious is Hepatitis B?

• Hepatitis B (HBV) is 100 times more infectious than the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and is more resilient.

• Hepatitis B virus is present in all bodily secretions and excretions. Daily activities therefore provide many opportunities for the virus to be transmitted.
• An estimated 2 billion people worldwide are infected with HBV.
• An estimated 350 to 400 million people are chronic carriers of the hepatitis B virus.
• An estimated 2,5 million people worldwide die annually as a result of hepatitis B.
• An estimated 15 000 deaths per year can be ascribed to hepatitis B in South Africa.

How is hepatitis B spread?

• Most often via blood or blood products
• Contaminated instruments, e.g. needles and blades
• Through unprotected sexual intercourse
• Through other bodily secretions, e.g. saliva, tears, semen
• From mother to child during childbirth
• Through minor cuts, wounds and abrasions
• There is a case study of a policeman who contracted HBV after being bitten by a human who resisted arrest

What are the signs and symptoms of Hepatitis B?

Initial phase:
Fever
Fatigue
Sore muscles
Nausea and vomiting

Later phase:
Jaundice (yellow discoloration of the eyes)
Very dark urine
Sore joints
Itchy skin

How can hepatitis B be prevented?

• Maintain high standards of hygiene
• Proper disposal of needles, blades and any contaminated material
• Proper sterilization of instruments
• Use of protective equipment such as gloves and face masks
• Preventive measures should be considered for any person at risk
• A full vaccination schedule is recommended for lasting protection

Hepatitis A (HAV)

Hepatitis A is the most common form of acute viral hepatitis in the world. It is spread almost exclusively by faecal-oral route. The infection can therefore be spread by:

• Close contact, for instance by using the same eating utensils
• Water contaminated by raw sewerage or human excrement (poor sanitation)
• Clams and oysters are well-known sources of the hepatitis A virus (HAV)
• Food handlers (food prepared by an infected person)

The signs and symptoms of hepatitis A are mostly the same as those of hepatitis B but also include swollen glands, an enlarged liver and spleen and pain in the area of the liver.

The vaccination campaign in the SAPS

• The SAPS is creating awareness about hepatitis in the workplace and assisting in the prevention of possible work-related incidents.
• Hepatitis can be prevented through vaccination and SAPS employees are encouraged to get vaccinated for their own protection and for the protection of their colleagues and their families.
• The Safety, Health Environment (S.H.E) Management section is responsible for the cost of vaccination. SAPS employees will not pay from their pockets neither from their medical aid.
• The vaccination programme targets all SAPS employees.

Sen Supt Rhode, Supt Dennis Frost, Capt Samson Mnumzana
and Elvis Mokoena from GlaxoSmithKline
South Africa put the vaccination session at CRC in Pretoria together.
 

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