WHO Says 325m People Have Chronic Hepatitis B/C virus

A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that a vast majority of the estimated 325 million people living with chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection lack access to life-saving testing and treatment.

The report said which showed that Hepatitis B levels varied across the planet revealed that Western Pacific Region (115 million people) and its African Region (60 million people) have the highest number of infected people.

The new report also showed that less than 10% of infected persons had access to quality health care, and an even smaller percent started receiving treatment after getting infected with the disease which increases the risk of cancer and even death.

Margaret Chan, the Director-General of WHO, in a report announcing the findings, said: “Viral hepatitis is now recognized as a major public health challenge that requires an urgent response.

“Vaccines and medicines to tackle hepatitis exist, and we are committed to helping ensure these tools reach all those who need them”.

Globally, 84 per cent of children born in 2015 received the three recommended doses of HBV vaccine, and this mass vaccinations have helped reduce the global epidemic.

According to Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO’s Department of HIV and the Global Hepatitis Programme, “HBV infection requires lifelong treatment, and Hepatitis C can be cured within a relatively short time using the correct medicines, making the need for testing and treatment all the more important.

“We are still at an early stage of the viral hepatitis response, but the way forward looks promising.

“More countries are making hepatitis services available for people in need – a diagnostic test costs less than one dollar and the cure for HCV can be below 200 dollars.”