Gurugram, June 18 -- The prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in Palwal district has risen sharply in the wake of the outbreak reported earlier this year in Chainsa village, with RTI data sought from the district's health department showing positivity rates more than three times higher than levels recorded in recent years. Data from the district health department showed that 7,305 people were screened for HBV through rapid antigen (HBsAg) tests in the first four months of 2026, of whom 78 tested reactive - a positivity rate of 1.07%. By comparison, the positivity rate stood at 0.30% in 2025, 0.23% in 2024 and 0.28% in 2023. The findings come months after an outbreak in Chainsa village that was linked to six of the nine confirmed deaths recorded between January and March this year. Positivity rates for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) have also risen. Official records show that 8,240 people were screened using rapid HCV test kits between January and April this year, with 142 individuals testing reactive - a positivity rate of 1.72%. This marks an increase from 1.24% in 2025, when 229 people tested positive out of 18,430 screenings. The positivity rate was 1.55% in 2024, with 216 detections from 13,850 screenings, and 1.24% in 2023, when 125 people tested positive from 10,044 screenings. The RTI data also indicates a steady rise in active hepatitis cases in the district over the past few years. Active HBV cases increased from 43 on January 1, 2023, to 198 as of April 30, 2026. Active HCV cases climbed from 141 on December 31, 2023, to 246 on December 31, 2024, and further to 268 on December 31, 2025. The district had already reported 180 active HCV cases by April 30 this year, suggesting the upward trend may continue through 2026. Health officials attributed part of the rise to expanded screening among blood donors, pregnant women and other high-risk groups. "The increased testing often leads to identification of previously undiagnosed cases," said Dr Vasu Dev, district coordinator of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) in Palwal. Dr Dev said the district primarily records hepatitis detections through the hospital's OPD route, while severe or complicated cases of hepatitis infections due to other conditions like pancreatitis and leptospirosis are referred directly to PGIMS Rohtak. He acknowledged, however, that "mortality and long-term outcome records are not always centrally maintained at the district level because treatment and death registration may occur across multiple higher institutions." The RTI data also highlighted differences in treatment outcomes between HBV and HCV patients. Since 2023, 144 HBV patients have enrolled for treatment at the district level, but only 63 have achieved viral suppression, with many requiring long-term monitoring and follow-up. Outcomes in HCV patients have been more encouraging. Of 687 patients enrolled for treatment since 2023, 553 completed therapy and 466 achieved cure outcomes. Officials said the gap between treatment enrolment and completion reflected ongoing treatment cycles, follow-up requirements and referrals to tertiary care centres....