Dr Mudashiru Uthman of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, (UITH), said on Monday that vegetables grown with infected human faeces as manure could lead to Hepatitis B.

The consultant public health physician told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that hepatitis was a viral disease that killed fast.

"Hepatitis B is deadlier than HIV, as its virus survives longer while outside the body system, especially in its dry state.

"The virus could be transmitted when vegetables grown with infected human faeces used as manure are eaten without being boiled properly.

"Any person infected with a severe kind of Hepatitis B could die within one month of being infected, if not properly treated at the point of diagnosis,'' Uthman said.

He said that the disease was transmitted through "faeco-oral route", that is from faeces to the mouth as well as through unprotected sex.

"Just like HIV virus is transmitted, Hepatitis B and other types can be transmitted through unprotected sex, use of contaminated sharp objects; child-birth transmission in terms of Mother-to-Child transmission, among others," he added.

The medical expert advised people to go for periodic medical tests in order to detect the virus at early stage and prevent sudden death.