Srinagar, July 28 -- Kashmir's hepatitis problem runs deeper than symptoms suggest. World Hepatitis Day reveals why.

The virus spreads through ordinary moments of life, remains invisible for years and often appears only when a person undergoes a routine medical check.

By then, a disease that could have been detected early may have already begun damaging the liver.

This is the central failure in Kashmir's battle against hepatitis: the tools to identify and control the disease exist, but many people reach diagnosis by accident rather than through a planned public health system.

Hepatitis B and C are especially dangerous because they remain inside the body for years while causing gradual liver damage, eventually leading to cirrhosis or l...