Every day, more than 6000 individuals contract viral hepatitis, with the global battle against the disease currently at a standstill, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report, unveiled at the World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon, evaluates the impact of viral hepatitis across 187 countries and gauges global efforts towards eradicating the disease.
Viral hepatitis, which can be triggered by a virus causing liver inflammation, jaundice, fever, and other symptoms, can also be caused by heavy alcohol consumption and certain medications. The five main virus strains can be prevented via vaccination. Two strains, Hepatitis B and C, can lead to chronic illness, with Hepatitis B being linked to the majority of fatalities.
The report highlights an alarming increase in death from the disease, positioning viral hepatitis as the second major cause of death from non-Covid communicable diseases globally. In 2022, viral hepatitis deaths increased to 1.3 million worldwide, a rise from 1.1 million in 2019. Despite a decrease in new cases during this period, the report deems the world “off-track” with the WHO’s goal of reducing new infections by 90% and deaths by 65% by 2030.
The report further reveals that two-thirds of the global disease burden of viral hepatitis is borne by just 10 countries:
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Ethiopia
- Bangladesh
- Vietnam
- The Philippines
- Russia
Primary care disparities, medication availability, testing, and vaccination are the driving forces behind these disparities, suggests the report.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director General, announced in a press release that despite progress in preventing hepatitis infections, death rates are increasing due to a lack of diagnosis and treatment for many hepatitis patients.
The report also outlines funding challenges potentially hindering further progress. However, the WHO concludes that a public health approach, centered on expanding fair access to hepatitis interventions, could put the world back on the path to eradicating the disease by the end of the decade.
