A third of the world population is infected with Hepatitis B while in the Maltese Islands usually there are less than 10 acute cases per year. Last year, there were 4 acute cases.

In acute cases, symptoms include jaundice, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fatigue, fever and side pain. Sometimes acute cases have no symptoms at all.

Hepatitis B is not spread through food, water or casual contact, but through various other methods including:
• direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person ;
• sharing injection equipment;
• sexual contact;
• infected mother to baby during childbirth.

The Parliamentary Secretary added that all syringes used in local clinics and hospitals are all disposable thus they are safe.

Dr Cassar said the policy is based on prevention of Hepatitis B at work and applies both to public places as well as private ones and individuals.

Its aim is to protect both workers and patients.

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