Global efforts to tackle viral hepatitis show promising results, yet it remains a serious global health issue. A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that hepatitis caused 1.34 million deaths in 2024, mainly due to hepatitis B and C. With more than 4,900 new infections every day, there’s still much work to be done.
Since 2015, there’s been notable progress. New hepatitis B infections dropped by 32%, and deaths related to hepatitis C decreased by 12%. Notably, the prevalence of hepatitis B among children under five fell to 0.6%, with 85 countries achieving the goal of 0.1% set for 2030. These gains stem from the commitment of countries following WHO guidelines for hepatitis elimination discussed during the World Health Assembly in 2016.
However, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, warns that the pace of progress is not fast enough. Many people continue to live without diagnosis or treatment due to stigma, weak healthcare systems, and unequal access to care. Despite having effective tools at our disposal, we must act urgently to meet the 2030 elimination targets.
The numbers are staggering. Around 287 million people lived with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2024. The WHO African Region recorded a significant portion of new hepatitis B cases, with only 17% of newborns receiving the necessary vaccination. Among the new hepatitis C infections, people who inject drugs accounted for 44%, highlighting the need for better harm reduction strategies.
Access to treatment remains limited. In 2024, fewer than 5% of those with chronic hepatitis B received treatment, and only 20% of hepatitis C patients have been treated since 2015, despite the availability of a highly effective 12-week cure. Consequently, an estimated 1.1 million died from hepatitis B, and 240,000 from hepatitis C, with liver diseases being the leading causes of death.
The burden is heavily concentrated in ten countries, including Bangladesh, China, and Nigeria, which together accounted for a vast majority of hepatitis-related deaths. The geographic distribution of hepatitis C deaths is broader, affecting countries like the U.S., Japan, and Russia.
Despite these daunting facts, progress examples from countries like Egypt and the UK prove that elimination is possible with the right commitment and investment. Effective tools like the hepatitis B vaccine, antiviral treatments, and short-course curative therapies for hepatitis C are available.
Dr. Tereza Kasaeva from the WHO emphasizes that each untreated case represents a preventable death. Therefore, countries must enhance their healthcare systems, integrate hepatitis services into primary care, and focus on communities most affected.
To move forward, experts recommend actions such as increasing hepatitis B treatment access, improving vaccination coverage, and ensuring safe injection practices. These changes are not just necessary; they are critical in changing the course of hepatitis-related deaths globally.
For more detailed information on hepatitis and health strategies, you can visit the World Health Organization’s site.
