Amanze ChinonyeAs the world marks World Hepatitis Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments, partners, and communities to urgently accelerate efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat, amid alarming new data linking chronic hepatitis to a surge in liver cancer deaths globally.
“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.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelViral hepatitis types A, B, C, D, and E are leading causes of acute liver infections. However, hepatitis B, C, and D are of most concern as they often progress into chronic conditions with serious complications including cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Collectively, these three forms affect over 300 million people worldwide and are responsible for more than 1.3 million deaths annually, mostly due to late diagnosis and inadequate access to treatment.
In a significant development, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has now classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic to humans, in the same category as hepatitis B and C. This reclassification signals the increased cancer risk posed by the virus, which only infects individuals already living with hepatitis B. Research shows that co-infection with hepatitis D increases the risk of liver cancer by two to six fold compared to hepatitis B infection alone.
“WHO has published guidelines on testing and diagnosis of hepatitis B and D in 2024, and is actively following the clinical outcomes from innovative treatments for hepatitis D,” said Dr. Meg Doherty, WHO’s incoming Director of Science for Health.
While effective treatment exists such as oral antivirals that cure hepatitis C in two to three months and lifelong suppressive therapy for hepatitis B progress remains painfully slow. Treatment options for hepatitis D are emerging, but WHO stresses that only urgent, scaled-up integration of services, including vaccination, testing, harm reduction, and treatment, into national health systems will significantly reduce liver-related deaths.
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The 2024 Global Hepatitis Report revealed critical shortfalls in diagnosis and treatment globally. Only 13 percent of people with hepatitis B and 36 percent with hepatitis C were diagnosed by 2022. Treatment coverage was far lower, with just 3 percent for hepatitis B and 20 percent for hepatitis C figures well below the 2025 global targets of 60 percent diagnosed and 50 percent treated.
Despite these challenges, some progress is being recorded. By 2025, the number of countries with national hepatitis action plans rose from 59 to 123. One hundred and twenty-nine countries have adopted hepatitis B testing for pregnant women, up from 106 in 2024. Similarly, 147 countries have introduced the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, up from 138 in 2022.
Still, integration of hepatitis services into existing health frameworks remains inconsistent. Only 80 countries have embedded hepatitis care into primary healthcare, 128 into HIV services, and a mere 27 into harm reduction centers for vulnerable populations.
According to WHO projections, reaching the 2030 elimination targets could save 2.8 million lives and prevent nearly 10 million new infections. But with declining donor support, WHO is urging countries to prioritize domestic funding, build stronger data systems, scale up affordable treatments, and combat stigma.
To galvanize global attention, WHO has teamed up with Rotary International and the World Hepatitis Alliance under this year’s theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down.” The campaign aims to dismantle persistent barriers from funding gaps to community stigma and accelerate progress in testing, prevention, and treatment. The organizations hosted a joint global webinar and advocacy outreach, emphasizing the vital role of civil society, local communities, and governments in tackling the hepatitis burden.
As the world reflects on the rising toll of liver cancer and preventable hepatitis deaths, WHO’s message is clear: the time to act is now.
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