A new report released by the World Health Organization at the World Hepatitis Summit reveals that global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress. However, despite these gains, the disease continues to pose a major public health challenge worldwide.
Hepatitis Continues to Claim Lives Globally
Viral hepatitis B and C—responsible for 95% of hepatitis-related deaths—claimed approximately 1.34 million lives in 2024. At the same time, transmission remains high, with over 4,900 new infections occurring daily, amounting to 1.8 million cases annually. Therefore, while progress is evident, the burden of disease remains significant.
Encouraging Trends Since 2015
Since 2015, global efforts have led to notable improvements. The report shows that new hepatitis B infections have declined by 32%, while hepatitis C-related deaths have decreased by 12%. Additionally, hepatitis B prevalence among children under five has dropped to 0.6%. Importantly, 85 countries have already met or exceeded the 2030 target of reducing prevalence to 0.1%.
These achievements reflect sustained global and national action following the adoption of hepatitis elimination targets at the World Health Assembly in 2016.
Progress Remains Uneven and Insufficient
Nevertheless, progress has not been uniform. The report warns that current efforts are insufficient to meet all 2030 elimination targets. According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, while elimination is achievable, progress remains slow and uneven. He emphasized that millions of people remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and unequal access to care. Consequently, countries must urgently scale up prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.
Global Burden and Key Gaps in Care
In 2024, an estimated 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections. Of these:
- Around 0.9 million new hepatitis B infections occurred, with the African region accounting for 68% of cases. However, only 17% of newborns in this region received the birth-dose vaccine.
- Another 0.9 million people contracted hepatitis C, with 44% of infections linked to unsafe injection practices among people who inject drugs.
Furthermore, treatment coverage remains alarmingly low. Fewer than 5% of people with chronic hepatitis B receive treatment, while only 20% of hepatitis C patients have accessed curative therapy since 2015.
Rising Deaths Linked to Limited Access
Due to limited access to prevention and care, hepatitis caused approximately 1.1 million deaths from hepatitis B and 240,000 deaths from hepatitis C in 2024. Most deaths resulted from complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Notably, countries including Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, and Vietnam accounted for 69% of hepatitis B-related deaths. Meanwhile, hepatitis C deaths were more widely distributed across nations such as China, India, Pakistan, the United States, and Japan.
Proven Solutions Offer Hope
Despite these challenges, several countries—including Egypt, Georgia, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom—have demonstrated that elimination is achievable with sustained investment and commitment.
Effective tools already exist:
- The hepatitis B vaccine provides over 95% protection.
- Long-term antiviral therapy helps manage chronic hepatitis B and prevents severe complications.
- Short-course hepatitis C treatments (8–12 weeks) can cure more than 95% of cases.
Urgent Call to Accelerate Action
As per the WHO press release, Tereza Kasaeva stressed that every missed diagnosis represents a preventable death. She urged countries to integrate hepatitis services into primary healthcare systems and focus on reaching high-risk populations.
The report also outlines key priority actions. These include expanding hepatitis B treatment, improving access to hepatitis C care, increasing vaccination coverage—especially at birth—and strengthening harm reduction strategies for safer injections.
The Road to 2030
Ultimately, while the world has the tools to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, faster and more coordinated action is essential. By strengthening political commitment, increasing funding, and improving access to care, countries can accelerate progress and move closer to achieving the 2030 elimination goals.