Annually, viral hepatitis infections claim 1.3 million lives worldwide, making it the second leading infectious cause of death globally, on par with tuberculosis, another significant infectious killer.
The disclosure came from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its 2024 Global Hepatitis Reports unveiled at the World Hepatitis Summit happening from April 9 to 11, 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal. The summit’s theme is “Integrate Accelerate Eliminate,” aimed at advancing the viral hepatitis agenda and providing a platform for the hepatitis community to assess progress, share experiences, and discuss best practices towards eliminating viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver caused by various infectious and non-infectious agents, leads to a spectrum of health issues, some of which can be fatal. There are five primary strains of the hepatitis virus known as types A, B, C, D, and E. Despite all causing liver disease, they differ in modes of transmission, severity, geographical distribution, and prevention methods.
The African region shoulders 63% of new hepatitis B infections, yet only 18% of newborns in the region receive the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination. In the Western Pacific Region, which accounts for 47% of hepatitis B deaths, treatment coverage stands at a low 23% among diagnosed individuals.
Ten countries, including Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, and Viet Nam, carry nearly two-thirds of the burden of hepatitis B and C globally. Achieving universal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in these countries by 2025, alongside intensified efforts in the African Region, is crucial to align the global response with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The report by WHO highlighted the increasing number of fatalities due to viral hepatitis, with 3,500 lives lost each day to these infections. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment tools, along with decreasing product costs, testing and treatment coverage rates remain stagnant. However, attaining the WHO elimination goal by 2030 is still feasible with prompt actions.
New data from 187 countries show a rise in deaths from viral hepatitis, reaching 1.3 million in 2022 from 1.1 million in 2019. The majority (83%) were due to hepatitis B, and the rest (17%) were from hepatitis C. The figures indicate a global daily toll of 3,500 lives due to hepatitis B and C infections.
Dr. Terror Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed concern over the escalating deaths despite progress in preventing hepatitis infections, emphasizing the need to diagnose and treat more people with hepatitis. The updated estimates reveal 254 million individuals living with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C in 2022.
Half of the chronic hepatitis B and C burden falls on individuals aged 30–54, with 12% among children under 18. Men constitute 58% of all cases. While the new infection estimates show a slight decrease compared to 2019, viral hepatitis incidence remains high. In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections, including 1.2 million hepatitis B and nearly 1 million hepatitis C cases, translating to over 6,000 new infections daily.
Enhanced data from national prevalence surveys indicate that prevention measures like immunization and safe injections, alongside expanding hepatitis C treatment, have contributed to reducing the incidence. Despite these strides, only 13% of people with chronic hepatitis B have been diagnosed globally, and approximately 3% have received antiviral therapy by the end of 2022. Concerning hepatitis C, 36% have been diagnosed, and 20% have received curative treatment, falling below the global targets for 2030.
The report proposes expediting hepatitis elimination by broadening access to testing and diagnostics, prioritizing equitable treatment, reinforcing primary care prevention, streamlining service delivery, optimizing product supply, developing investment cases in key countries, and sourcing innovative finances, among other recommendations.