By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Geneva — As the world observes World Hepatitis Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments and global health partners to accelerate efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat and significantly reduce liver cancer deaths.
“Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related severe liver disease or liver cancer. Yet we have the tools to stop hepatitis,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, in a message published on WHO’s official website.
Viral hepatitis encompassing types A, B, C, D, and E is one of the leading causes of acute liver infections worldwide. Among these, hepatitis B, C, and D are the most dangerous, often leading to chronic conditions such as liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Alarmingly, over 300 million people globally are living with hepatitis B, C, or D, yet the vast majority remain undiagnosed.
These types of hepatitis are responsible for more than 1.3 million deaths annually, primarily due to complications like liver cirrhosis and cancer.
In a major development, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has officially classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic to humans, aligning it with hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis D which only occurs in individuals already infected with hepatitis B increases the risk of liver cancer by two- to six-fold compared to hepatitis B alone.
“This reclassification marks a critical step in raising global awareness, improving screening, and expanding access to new treatments for hepatitis D,” said Dr Meg Doherty, WHO’s incoming Director of Science for Health.
WHO has also released updated guidelines on the testing and diagnosis of hepatitis B and D in 2024, and is closely monitoring clinical outcomes from emerging hepatitis D treatments.
Effective treatments are already available: hepatitis C can be cured in 2 to 3 months with oral medications, and hepatitis B can be managed through lifelong therapy.
While treatment options for hepatitis D are still evolving, WHO emphasizes that eliminating viral hepatitis and its link to liver cancer requires comprehensive action, including, widespread vaccination, routine testing, harm reduction strategies and accessible treatment integrated into national health system.
According to WHO’s 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, while significant strides have been made, service coverage still falls far short:
- Only 13% of people with hepatitis B and 36% with hepatitis C had been diagnosed by 2022.
- Treatment rates were lower still: 3% for hepatitis B and 20% for hepatitis C.
- WHO’s 2025 targets aim for 60% diagnosed and 50% treated, making current rates a critical concern.
Nonetheless, progress is visible:
- Countries with national hepatitis action plans rose from 59 to 123 in 2025.
- 129 countries now test pregnant women for hepatitis B, up from 106 in 2024.
- 147 countries have introduced the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, compared to 138 in 2022.
Still, integration of hepatitis services remains uneven: only 80 countries have fully integrated services into primary health care, and just 27 offer hepatitis C services in harm reduction centers.
Meeting WHO’s 2030 hepatitis elimination goals could prevent 9.8 million new infections and save 2.8 million lives.
However, this will require sustained domestic investment, reduced stigma, accessible medicines, robust data, and stronger integration of services.
To mark World Hepatitis Day, WHO is joining forces with Rotary International and the World Hepatitis Alliance under this year’s theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.”
The campaign calls for urgent action to address the growing burden of liver cancer and dismantle persistent barriers including stigma and funding shortages that hinder prevention, testing, and treatment.
Through joint advocacy, webinars, and community-led outreach, WHO and its partners are emphasizing the critical role of civil society and local leadership in the fight to eliminate hepatitis worldwide.