Jaundice causing 1 out of 5 deaths during pregnancy

Staff Reporter
1 out of every 5 deaths during pregnancy is being caused by Hepatitis-E induced jaundice. According to the World Health Organization, every year, 2 crore people get infected by this virus, but only 1% of the people infected die. However, this virus is dangerous for pregnant women.
A research paper published by the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B) states that 58% deaths during pregnancy occur due to jaundice related reasons. The water supply mixing with the drainage line in City Corporation areas is the main reason of jaundice infections.
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene mentioned a survey done under the ICDDR, B and informed that, the death rate of mothers due to jaundice was 19% in the year 2001. In 2010, the rate went up to 23%. Another research done by ICDDR, B in 2012 shows that 19-25% of mother and children deaths are due to jaundice related reasons.
ICDDR, B researcher Dr. K. Zaman and his team were given a grant of 5.5 million dollars by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health to create a new vaccine to prevent deaths during pregnancy due to Hepatitis-E induced jaundice in 2015. The team has started test-trials. The research work to implement a cheap vaccine is being carried out in Chandpur by ICDDR, B.
Translated by: Sumaiya Kabir