About Hepatitis
What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver caused by drugs, alcohol, and viruses such as hepatitis B or C, can lead to severe health issues and be fatal. Viral hepatitis specifically refers to liver inflammation resulting from a viral infection.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 325 million people globally live with hepatitis B and/or C. In 2013, viral hepatitis claimed 1.46 million lives, surpassing the death tolls from malaria, tuberculosis, or HIV. Since 1990, the number of deaths from viral hepatitis has been on the rise.
Most deaths occur in resource-limited countries, particularly in Africa, one of the world’s most endemic regions for viral hepatitis. However, efforts to prevent, screen, and treat viral hepatitis in Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa, are very limited.
The WHO Member States have endorsed a global strategy to eliminate hepatitis B and C by 2030. Without additional efforts to reduce new infections, an estimated 19 million hepatitis-related deaths could occur between 2015 and 2030. Elimination is achievable through a combination of treatment and prevention, which can prevent deaths in the short and medium term.
Facts about Hepatitis B?
- Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver, leading to both acute and chronic diseases, including cancer.
- The virus spreads through contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected individual.
- Approximately 2 billion people worldwide have been infected with the virus, with around 370 million living with chronic infection and liver damage.
- About 25% of adults who are chronically infected as children later die from liver cancer or cirrhosis due to the chronic infection.