The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning regarding the increasing toll of viral hepatitis infections, which claim 3,500 lives each day globally. According to the WHO 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, viral hepatitis is now the second leading infectious cause of death worldwide, with 1.3 million deaths annually, equivalent to tuberculosis, another top infectious killer.
Released at the World Hepatitis Summit, the report emphasizes that despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment tools, and decreasing product costs, testing and treatment coverage rates have plateaued. However, the WHO believes that achieving the organization’s elimination goal by 2030 remains feasible if urgent actions are taken.
New data from 187 countries indicates that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis has risen from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Hepatitis B is responsible for 83 per cent of these deaths, while hepatitis C accounts for the remaining 17 per cent. Every day, 3,500 individuals succumb to hepatitis B and C infections globally.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern over the troubling trend, stating, “Despite global progress in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are on the rise due to inadequate diagnosis and treatment for those affected.” He emphasized WHO’s commitment to supporting countries in utilizing all available tools, at affordable prices, to save lives and reverse this trend.
Updated WHO estimates reveal that 254 million people are living with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C in 2022. Half of the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections lies among individuals aged 30-54, with 12 per cent among children under 18 years old. Men constitute 58 per cent of all cases.
Although there has been a slight decrease in new incidence compared to 2019, the overall incidence of viral hepatitis remains high. In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections, including 1.2 million hepatitis B infections and nearly 1 million hepatitis C infections. Over 6,000 people are newly infected with viral hepatitis each day.
While prevention measures such as immunization and safe injections, along with the expansion of hepatitis C treatment, have contributed to reducing incidence rates, diagnosis and treatment coverage remain inadequate. Only 13 per cent of people living with chronic hepatitis B and 36 per cent with hepatitis C have been diagnosed, with even lower rates of treatment.
The burden of viral hepatitis varies regionally, with the WHO African Region bearing 63 per cent of new hepatitis B infections, yet vaccination coverage for newborns in the region remains low. Efforts to achieve universal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in priority countries are essential to meet global targets and combat the epidemic effectively.
Despite the availability of affordable generic viral hepatitis medicines, many countries fail to procure them at lower prices due to pricing disparities and centralized service delivery systems. The WHO report outlines a series of actions to accelerate progress towards ending the epidemic by 2030, including expanding access to testing and treatment, strengthening prevention efforts, and mobilizing innovative financing.
However, funding for viral hepatitis remains insufficient, highlighting the need for increased awareness and investment in cost-saving interventions and tools. The report aims to address these challenges and empower countries to access affordable tools to combat viral hepatitis effectively.