Every year on 28 July, WHO and partners mark World Hepatitis Day to increase awareness and understanding of viral hepatitis and the diseases that it causes. This date honours the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus.
There are 5 types of hepatitis viruses – A, B, C, D and E. All hepatitis viruses can cause acute infection and inflammation of the liver, but infection with hepatitis B, C and D viruses can also result in chronic hepatitis that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Viral hepatitis B and C are major health challenges and root causes of liver cancer. In the WHO European Region, 15 million people are estimated to live with chronic hepatitis B and 14 million with hepatitis C. Most of these people are unaware of their infection and continue to carry the virus. They are therefore at high risk of developing severe chronic liver disease and can unknowingly transmit the virus to other people.
Every year, more than a million lives are lost to hepatitis. We’re not waiting for change – we’re fighting to make it happen.
- People living with viral hepatitis unaware can’t wait for testing
- People living with hepatitis can’t wait for life saving treatments
- Expectant mothers can’t wait for hepatitis screening and treatment
- Newborn babies can’t wait for birth dose vaccination
- People affected by hepatitis can’t wait to end stigma and discrimination
- Community organisations can’t wait for greater investment
- Decision makers can’t wait and must act now to make hepatitis elimination a reality through political will and funding.
