Hepatitis B Outbreak in India

Raids at medical stores in New Delhi, India were carried out due to a hepatitis B outbreak leaving 32 people dead, officials said. They were raided for bogus drugs and recycled syringes. Also, five medical practitioners were arrested on violation charges.

One practitioner is being held for allegedly reusing injection syringes.

There have been 111 recorded cases of hepatitis B infections over the course of the past two weeks.

Health officials have launched an awareness campaign in the district.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease resulting from an infection with the hepatitis B virus.

The disease which can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a more serious chronic illness resulting in long-term health problems or death, is usually spread through blood, semen and other bodily fluids; often through sexual contact or sharing syringes with an infected person, the CDC says.