Acupuncture hepatitis in the West Midlands, 1977

✍ Scribed by Elizabeth H. Boxall

• Book ID: 102378783
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1978
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 151 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.1890020411

✦ Synopsis

In recent years large outbreaks of hepatitis B in the United Kingdom have been uncommon. Hepatitis B is not easily transmitted, for intimate contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or chronic carrier is required for transfer of infection. An outbreak can occur only if 1) many people are exposed at the same time and 2) the person-to-person transfer is by an efficient route. In 1977 both conditions were met in the front room of a terraced house in Birmingham, where acupuncture was regularly practiced by a person with no recognized medical qualification. This practitioner has been treating patients for at least four years and sees up to 80 patients a day.