Hepatitis is a Worldwide Health Threat

The World Hepatitis Alliance today welcomes the publication of the first-ever Global Hepatitis Report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO set a goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

The Global Hepatitis Report shows for the first-time that:

• Unsafe healthcare procedures and injection drug use are the leading causes of new hepatitis C infections, accounting for the majority of the 1.75 million new infections
• Viral hepatitis causes 1.34 million deaths (a number comparable to annual deaths caused by tuberculosis, HIV and malaria)
• 325 million people live with viral hepatitis (approximately 4.4% of the world's population)
• Only 9% of persons living with hepatitis B and 20% of persons living with hepatitis C have been tested and are aware of their status

Charles Gore, President of the World Hepatitis Alliance said, "Global deaths from hepatitis must be brought down from 1.34 million to lower than 469,000 people per year."

The report shows that since 2000, deaths due to viral hepatitis increased by 22%, while deaths due to other diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV have been declining.

Additionally, the report indicates childhood hepatitis B vaccination coverage has reached 84%, while coverage with the initial birth dose vaccination is still unacceptably low at 39%.

In 2015, 84% of children born received the three recommended doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Some countries, such as China, have achieved coverage rates of 96%.

The WHO identified several hepatitis B "hot spots" with the Western Pacific region and Africa reporting most of the new cases.

The WHO said the Eastern Mediterranean region, the European region, and the African region account for most of the world's hepatitis C cases, adding that the virus is still primarily transmitted via needle sharing and unhygienic healthcare practices.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but great strides have been made in making treatments affordable and accessible. The disease can be cured with a 3-month course of direct-acting antivirals.

However, only 1% of people living with hepatitis C currently have access to affordable treatment.

Raquel Peck, CEO of World Hepatitis Alliance said "Today, 325 million men, women and children are living with a cancer-causing illness despite the availability of preventative vaccines for hepatitis B and curative treatments for hepatitis C. We need to use this report to advocate for a public health approach, so that testing and treatment are rolled out at the scale necessary to ensure that every person has the opportunity to live a healthy life". She added, "We have the knowledge, what we need now is action."

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