Three scientists receive Nobel prize for medicine this year

The Nobel Prize awarded for their discovery of the Hepatitis C virus. Harvey J.

Alter and Charles M.Rice from America, and Michael Houghton from British are going to receive the prestigious Nobel Prize award-2020 for their contributions to the medical field.The award is for their discovery of the Hepatitis C virus that explains a major source of blood-borne hepatitis which could not explain hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses.

Hepatitis C virus is a major source of chronic liver disease that affects millions around the worldwide, and their work helped in making new medicines that have saved millions of lives.In a statement, the committee has said: “Thanks to their discovery, highly sensitive blood tests for the virus are now available, and these have essentially eliminated post-transfusion hepatitis in many parts of the world, greatly improving global health.” According to the World Health Organization, more than 70 million people are suffering from hepatitis worldwide, and almost 4,00,000 deaths are recording per year.

From decades the chronic disease is spreading its wings, causing liver inflammation and cancer.The awardees will receive a gold medal and prize money of 10 million Swedish kronor (over USD 1,118,000).