The World Health Organisation says global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are yielding measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, but the disease remains a major global health challenge requiring sustained action worldwide.

In a statement released Tuesday at the World Hepatitis Summit, the organisation cited a new report showing hepatitis B and C caused 1.34 million deaths globally in 2024.

The report noted that transmission continued, with more than 4,900 new infections daily, or about 1.8 million annually, underscoring persistent spread despite expanded prevention, testing, and treatment interventions worldwide.

“Since 2015, significant gains include a 32 per cent drop in new hepatitis B infections and a 12 per cent decline in hepatitis C-related deaths, alongside improved childhood vaccination coverage in regions.

“Hepatitis B prevalence among children under five has fallen to 0.6 per cent, with 85 countries meeting or surpassing the 2030 target of 0.1 per cent, reflecting sustained coordinated global action recently achieved,” it said.

However, the report warned progress remained too slow and uneven to meet all 2030 elimination targets, calling for accelerated prevention, expanded testing, and broader access to effective treatment worldwide.

WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus said elimination was possible with political commitment and reliable financing, but many people remained undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and inequitable access.

He said updated estimates showed 287 million people lived with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2024, including 0.9 million new hepatitis B infections, with Africa accounting for 68 per cent of those cases.

“Only 17 per cent of newborns in the African region received the hepatitis B birth dose, while 0.9 million hepatitis C infections occurred, linked to unsafe injections and inadequate harm reduction services.

“In spite of effective vaccines and treatments, including a short-course hepatitis C cure exceeding 95 per cent, fewer than five per cent of hepatitis B patients receive therapy, and only 20 per cent are treated globally,” he said.

(NAN)