Hepatitis A and E cases soar across Delhi-NCR as monsoon worsens water woes

Hospital

As the monsoon drenches Delhi-NCR, city hospitals are reporting a sharp rise in hepatitis A and E cases, with doctors warning that poor water quality, sanitation failures and unhygienic food practices are fuelling what is fast becoming a seasonal public health concern.

As per a TOI report, in the past three weeks alone, hospitals have witnessed a 30–40% increase in acute viral hepatitis cases compared to the drier months, according to senior clinicians. The surge has coincided with World Hepatitis Day, observed on Monday, bringing renewed focus to the annual threat these waterborne infections pose - particularly to children, pregnant women and people with pre-existing liver conditions.

“In the last three weeks, we saw a 40% surge in acute viral hepatitis in our OPD,” said Dr Abhideep Chaudhary, president-elect of the Liver Transplantation Society of India (LTSI) and vice-chairman, HPB and liver transplantation at BLK-Max Hospital, TOI reported. “Most patients are unaware of hepatitis vaccination. Unsafe water and lack of awareness remain key triggers. Hepatitis E can be fatal during pregnancy, while hepatitis A can cause acute liver failure requiring, in some cases, a transplant.”

According to LTSI data and inputs, over 70% of hepatitis cases in India during the monsoon are attributed to the hepatitis E virus, with hepatitis A remaining especially common among children under the age of 15. Symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, vomiting, dark urine and fatigue have become increasingly common in outpatient departments across the capital.

Dr Sanjiv Saigal, president of LTSI, noted that the problem returns with disturbing regularity. “This is a seasonal epidemic that returns every year, yet preparedness is lacking,” he was cited by TOI. “Infection is entirely preventable through clean water, hygienic food handling and vaccination for high-risk groups. As we mark World Hepatitis Day, the focus must shift from treatment to prevention.”

The seasonal spike is being driven by monsoon-related challenges such as waterlogging, open drains and sewage-contaminated drinking water — especially in slums and informal settlements. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates nearly 20 million global hepatitis E infections annually, with India accounting for a significant share.

TOI reported that the city’s ageing water infrastructure, the unchecked proliferation of street food vendors and haphazard urban development continue to heighten vulnerability to such outbreaks. Misinformation and casual attitudes towards hepatitis are compounding the crisis.

“Patients believe they’ll recover without treatment. By then, complications will have set in,” Dr Chaudhary warned. He added that myths around jaundice being “self-limiting” often result in delays in diagnosis and treatment.

To combat the threat, NGOs and health organisations are intensifying outreach efforts in vulnerable localities. Awareness campaigns are being held in flood-prone neighbourhoods, with health camps, information leaflets and appeals for better sanitation practices. “Our advice is simple: eat only well-cooked food, drink safe water and regularly wash hands with soap,” said Dr Monika Jain, director, liver diseases and GI sciences at Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, as cited by TOI.

Despite the focus often being on hepatitis B and C due to their long-term effects, clinicians stressed that hepatitis A and E are no less dangerous, particularly during the monsoon. The infections are entirely preventable, they said and prevention must become the frontline of response.

“Clean water, public hygiene, food safety and early intervention are our best weapons,” said Dr Saigal, as cited by TOI. “These illnesses needn’t be deadly because they’re preventable.”