Hepatitis: millions of Europeans live with the virus without knowing it

In Europe, 5 million people live with hepatitis B or C. And among them, more than 3 million are not diagnosed. This exposes them to an increased risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, but also facilitates the transmission of the virus, reveals a report of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

So -called “silent” infections because they go unnoticed, hepatitis B and C are transmitted via blood (for example when sharing syringes used to consume drugs) or by sexual means. They often take years before being detected, a time during which they destroy the liver little by little, recalls the ECDC.

Result: 50,000 deaths in Europe and 1.3 million worldwide are linked to these diseases, according to the World Health Organization. Or 3500 deaths per day, as much as tuberculosis. They are mainly due to liver cancer and cirrhosis, the two serious complications caused by the virus.

Hepatitis C can however cure itself with antivirals. This is not the case with hepatitis B, but there is a treatment for the chronic form of the disease; This keeps the virus under control, reducing the inflammation of the liver and preventing cirrhosis and cancer.

A study published Tuesday in “The Lancet” quoted hepatitis B and C viruses as the main cause of liver cancer, a disease whose number of cases could double in the world by 2050. And highlighted the importance of vaccination as a means of prevention.