The World Health Organization (WHO) raises awareness of the hepatitis virus on 28 July each year. Inflammation of the liver with viruses can lead to serious diseases and liver cancer. Thousands of children, young people and adults become ill every year due to acute viral hepatitis infections. This is the best known of five hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D and E.

Most acute hepatitis infections cause mild disease or go undetected. But in some cases, they can lead to complications and be fatal. In 2019 alone, there were an estimated 78,000 deaths worldwide due to complications of acute hepatitis due to hepatitis A to E viruses.

The international community has made elimination of hepatitis B, C and D a priority. Unlike acute hepatitis virus, these three viruses can lead to chronic hepatitis that affects people for decades and causes over one million deaths a year worldwide due to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

On World Hepatitis Day 2022, WHO emphasises the need for people to have better access to treatment and care, no matter what type of hepatitis they may have. Through concerted efforts of countries, WHO aims to eradicate hepatitis by 2030.

The Chief Epidemiologist