China has become the country with the world's largest population
of hepatitis B patients, said an official with the country's
Hepatitis Prevention Foundation Sunday.
Wang Zhao, head of the foundation, said that nearly 500,000
Chinese are killed every year by liver damage and hepatocirrhosis
triggered by chronical hepatitis B.
He pointed out that about 120 million Chinese have positive
reaction for hepatitis, which has become a severe public health
problem in the country.
His foundation and Novartis pharmaceutical company are working
together in pushing forward education project on hepatitis
prevention, including 120 lectures covering major cities.
(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2007)