71 prisoners infected with hepatitis in Karachi's jail

KARACHI: Even though freshly jailed criminals must be screened for major infectious diseases, an alarmingly high proportion of detainees at Malir district jail was revealed to be suffering from hepatitis B and C at a screening camp. 

According to a press release, at a 10-day vaccination/screening camp held at the district jail, 71 prisoners were reported to be diagnosed with hepatitis B and C.

At the facility, a total of 3,396 inmates were vaccinated against hepatitis B. The camp was conducted by Dr Zulfiqar Ali Dharejo, Additional Director, Hepatitis Programme, Sindh, who claimed the team tested 3,467 detainees with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

He stated, "Hepatitis B and C are widespread among prisoners. The cause is the use of contaminated syringes that prisoners share for injecting drugs. Our aim for holding the camp was to safeguard prisoners and their families,"

He claimed that while there were procedures in existence requiring new prisoners to be screened for contagious diseases, he wasn't aware of the status of their execution.