A recent World Health Organization report has revealed that over 6,000 people are infected with viral hepatitis every day, with progress towards eliminating the disease coming to a standstill. The study, presented at the World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon, looked at the global burden of viral hepatitis in 187 countries and assessed the world’s progress towards eradicating the disease.
Hepatitis is a liver disease that can be caused by heavy alcohol consumption, certain medications or a virus that causes liver inflammation, jaundice, fever and other symptoms. There are five primary virus strains, some of which can be prevented through vaccination. Hepatitis B and C are particularly concerning as they can lead to long-term disease and are responsible for the majority of deaths due to the disease.
The report highlights an increase in deaths from viral hepatitis, making it the second leading cause of death among non-COVID communicable diseases globally. Deaths from the disease rose to 1.3 million in 2022 from 1.1 million in 2019 despite a decline in new cases during that period. The report states that the world is falling short of WHO’s goals to reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% by 2030.
The burden of viral hepatitis is disproportionately concentrated in ten countries including China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan
