WHO reports 3,500 global viral hepatitis deaths daily

On April 9, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) released alarming data on global hepatitis infections in its 2024 Global Hepatitis Report. The report highlighted 1.3 million global viral hepatitis deaths in 2022, an increase from the 1.1 million deaths reported in 2019.

The analysis of global hepatitis rates across 187 countries found that hepatitis B and C were the leading cause of all viral hepatitis deaths, accounting for 83% and 17%, respectively, and contributing to 3,500 deaths daily.

According to the report, approximately 254 million people were living with hepatitis B in 2022, while 50 million were living with hepatitis C. Additionally, the WHO estimates that 6,000 people are newly infected each day.

“This report paints a troubling picture: despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, in the WHO press release. “WHO is committed to supporting countries to use all the tools at their disposal — at access prices — to save lives and turn this trend around.”

As Ghebreyesus pointed out, tools to prevent and manage hepatitis infections have advanced in recent years; however, the global detection and treatment rates remain low. For example, the WHO estimates that only 13% of individuals living with chronic hepatitis B globally have been diagnosed. An even smaller proportion, 3%, reported antiviral therapy treatment for their chronic condition by the end of 2022. Additionally, only 36% of those with hepatitis C have been diagnosed, and 20% have received treatment.

While these statistics are an improvement from 2019 rates — when hepatitis B diagnosis and treatment were at 10% and 2% and hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment were at 21% and 13% — they are still lower than the WHO’s treatment targets of 80%.

 Aside from pointing out disparities and challenges, the WHO report also offers recommendations to address the growing concern around hepatitis, including expanded access to testing and diagnostics, policy changes to promote equitable treatment, primary care prevention efforts, simplified service delivery, innovative financing, and more.