Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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United Press International - September 6, 2005
"One in every 20 people in India is a carrier of this deadly virus, which causes 80 percent of all liver cancer cases and about 1 percent of all adult deaths," said Indian Health Ministry officials Tuesday.
The ministry alarmed with the revelation has now decided to include Hepatitis B vaccination in the national immunization program.
"From 2006 children will be given the vaccine along with diphtheria ... and tetanus vaccine shots," The Times of India newspaper said.
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by a virus, which destroys liver tissue and leads to liver cancer.It is one of the world's leading infectious killers and claims more than 2 million lives every year. The virus is transmitted through infected blood.
Indian Health Minister Abumani Ramdoss said Hepatitis B has reached an alarming level and is increasing every year.
"The vaccine now will be administered in combination with DPTs to all children on their 4th, 6th and 12th week from next year," Ramdoss announced.
He said scientists had carried out clinical tests of this combination across 15 cities and 32 districts and it had proven effective.
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