On the occasion of World Day against Hepatitis, the WHO calls for public authorities and partners to accelerate efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a threat to public health and reduce the number of deaths by liver cancer.
“Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a serious liver disease or liver cancer linked to hepatitis. However, we have the tools that would make it possible to stop this disease, “said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Managing Director of WHO. Viral hepatitis – of types A, B, C, D and E – is a major cause of acute liver infection. In this group, only hepatitis B, C and D can cause chronic infections that considerably increase the risk of cirrhosis, liver insufficiency or liver cancer. Most people with hepatitis ignore that they are. Types B, C and D affect more than 300 million people worldwide and cause more than 1.3 million deaths each year, mainly following liver cirrhosis or cancer.
Hepatitis of now classified as carcinogenic
The International Center for Research on Cancer (CIRC) has classified hepatitis D as a carcinogenic for humans, in the same way as hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis D, which only affects people infected with hepatitis B, is associated with a risk of liver cancer two to six times higher than for hepatitis B. This reclassification marks a crucial step in the global effects Awareness, improvement of screening and expanding access to new treatments against hepatitis D. “WHO published in 2024 guidelines on screening and diagnosis of hepatitis B and D and it actively follows the clinical results of innovative treatments against hepatitis D”, declared the Dre Meg Doherty, WHO health. Oral treatment can cure hepatitis C in 2 to 3 months and effectively remove hepatitis B as part of life treatment. The therapeutic options for hepatitis D are evolving. However, we will not fully draw the advantages of reducing the cirrhosis of the liver and cancer deaths only through urgent action aimed at putting in scale and integrating the services to combat hepatitis – including vaccination, detection, risk reduction and treatment – in national health systems.
Most recent data and progress made
It is encouraging to note that the majority of low and intermediate income countries have put in place strategic plans to combat hepatitis and that national hepatitis ripostes increased. So in 2025, 123 countries reported national action plans against hepatitis, against 59 before. Still in 2025, 129 countries had adopted hepatitis B screening policies in pregnant women, when there were only 106 in 2024. Some 147 countries set up vaccination against hepatitis B at birth, against 138 in 2022. Nevertheless, as indicated by the 2024 report devoted to hepatitis in the world (in English), which concerns the coverage of the services and the results. For example, the coverage of tests and treatments remains extremely low, and, in 2022, only 13 % of people with hepatitis B and 36 % of people with hepatitis C had been diagnosed. The treatment rates were even lower – 3 % for hepatitis B and 20 % for hepatitis C – well below the objectives of 2025 which provided 60 % of diagnosed cases and 50 % treated. The integration of hepatitis fighting services remains unequal: 80 countries have integrated them into primary health care, 128 with HIV -fighting programs and only 27 in risk reduction centers (hepatitis C). The challenge, in the future, will be to set up the coverage of prevention, screening and treatment. By achieving the objectives set by the WHO for 2030, it would be possible to save 2.8 million lives and prevent 9.8 million new infections. Faced with the drop in donor support, countries must prioritize national investments, integrated services, data improvement, affordable drugs and the elimination of stigma.
Fifonsi Cyrience Kougnande