Health experts have said low immunity has resulted in repeated outbreaks of liver related diseases like jaundice in the Nepali capital, Kathmandu Valley, The Himalayan Times reported on Saturday.

Speaking at a press meet organized by the Liver Foundation Nepal (LFN) to make people aware of the sudden rise in jaundice and other liver related diseases in the valley, president of the LFN Dr Santosh Man Shrestha said, "recurrence of liver diseases in a particular area is rare in other parts of the world but this is the fourth time that there is viral outbreak in Kathmandu Valley."

He, however, said no traces of virus mutation were found.

Shrestha was quoted by the newspaper as saying that people who have migrated from the other parts of the country to the capital city were the most affected by liver ailments.

"Individuals infected during sporadic outbreak of viral diseases develop immunity. The rural areas of the country are still least affected by the diseases and the ruralites who migrate to the valley are most vulnerable to liver ailments."

About 90 percent cases of acute lever failure result in deaths whereas only 50 percent lever transplant cases succeed, he said.

Moreover, liver transplant is an expensive treatment, according to Shrestha.

About 2 percent population in Kathmandu Valley suffers from some form of liver ailment through out the year and the disease is spread by the use of contaminated water.

Water pipes supplying drinking water in the Kathmandu Valley are old, leaky and remain empty for a long time, leading to water contamination, Shrestha said.

Shrestha said the improvement in the quality of drinking water could largely prevent liver infection.

Those in the age group of 16 to 35 years are found to be highly affected by liver ailments, with 93 percent of them belonging to poor families.

Source: Xinhua