The 2024 Global Hepatitis Report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a concerning trend: the number of deaths from viral hepatitis is on the rise. Viral hepatitis is now the second leading cause of infectious deaths worldwide, claiming 1.3 million lives annually, which is equivalent to tuberculosis, another major infectious disease, as per WHO’s official announcement.
Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment tools, along with decreasing costs, rates of testing and treatment coverage have hit a plateau. However, the WHO believes that we can still meet the goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030 if we take immediate action.
WHO Raise Concern on Global Rise of Hepatitis Deaths
The latest report from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2024 reveals a concerning trend: deaths from viral hepatitis are on the rise worldwide. This disease now stands as the second leading cause of infectious deaths globally, claiming 1.3 million lives annually — a figure comparable to tuberculosis.
Despite advancements in diagnostic tools and treatment options, along with decreasing costs, rates of testing and treatment have plateaued. However, the WHO believes that meeting the goal of hepatitis elimination by 2030 is still feasible with prompt action.
Recent data spanning 187 countries shows a notable increase in hepatitis-related deaths, rising from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Hepatitis B accounts for 83% of these deaths, while hepatitis C contributes to 17%. Shockingly, every day witnesses the loss of 3500 lives globally due to hepatitis B and C infections.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expresses concern over the growing deaths despite global efforts to prevent hepatitis transmission. He emphasizes the urgent need for improved diagnosis and treatment accessibility to reverse this alarming trend.
Updated estimates indicate that 254 million individuals are living with hepatitis B, and 50 million with hepatitis C as of 2022. Notably, half of those burdened by chronic hepatitis B and C fall within the 30–54 age range, with 12% being children under 18. Moreover, men make up the majority of cases at 58%.
While there’s a slight decrease in new hepatitis cases compared to 2019, the overall incidence remains high. In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections, down from 2.5 million. Among these, hepatitis B accounted for 1.2 million new cases, while hepatitis C contributed nearly 1 million.
The report attributes the revised estimates to enhanced data collection methods, showcasing the effectiveness of preventive measures like immunization and safe injections, alongside the expansion of hepatitis C treatment, in reducing incidence rates.
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Global Hepatitis Treatment
Only a small portion of people with chronic hepatitis B or C have been properly diagnosed and treated worldwide. By the end of 2022, just 13% of those with hepatitis B and 36% with hepatitis C had received a diagnosis. Treatment rates are even lower, with only 3% receiving antiviral therapy for hepatitis B and 20% receiving curative treatment for hepatitis C.
These figures fall short of the global goal to treat 80% of people with these conditions by 2030. However, there has been some progress since 2019, with slight increases in diagnosis and treatment rates.
The situation varies by region. In Africa, for example, the burden of hepatitis B is high, yet only 18% of newborns receive the necessary vaccination. In the Western Pacific Region, where many hepatitis B deaths occur, treatment coverage is only 23%.
Certain countries, including Bangladesh, China, and Nigeria, carry a significant portion of the global hepatitis burden. It’s crucial to improve access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in these countries, as well as in Africa, to meet global health goals by 2025.
How to Combat Viral Hepatitis?
The report provides a plan to improve public health efforts against viral hepatitis, aiming to end the epidemic by 2030. The proposed actions include:
- Making testing and diagnostic tools more accessible.
- Moving from policies to practical steps to ensure fair treatment.
- Enhancing prevention efforts in primary care.
- Making services easier to access, improving product regulations, and managing supplies efficiently.
- Creating investment plans for countries most affected.
- Finding new ways to finance hepatitis initiatives.
- Using better data to guide actions.
- Involving affected communities and civil society, and advancing research for better diagnostics and potential cures for hepatitis B.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. What is the current status of viral hepatitis deaths worldwide as per WHO report?
Ans. The latest WHO report reveals a concerning rise in viral hepatitis deaths, making it the second leading cause of infectious deaths globally, claiming 1.3 million lives annually.
Q.2. How does viral hepatitis compare to other infectious diseases in terms of mortality?
Ans. Viral hepatitis now accounts for 1.3 million deaths annually, equivalent to tuberculosis, highlighting its significant impact on global public health.
Q.3. What are the key challenges hindering the elimination of hepatitis by 2030?
Ans. Challenges include plateauing rates of testing and treatment coverage despite advancements in tools and decreasing costs, along with disparities in access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services.
Q.4. What actions are proposed in the WHO report to address viral hepatitis?
Ans. The report suggests actions such as improving accessibility of testing and diagnostic tools, enhancing prevention efforts, optimizing service delivery, and mobilizing innovative financing to combat viral hepatitis.
Q.5. How can individuals and communities contribute to the fight against hepatitis?
Ans. Individuals and communities can contribute by raising awareness, promoting preventive measures such as vaccination and safe injections, supporting access to testing and treatment services, and participating in research and advocacy efforts.
