The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that global progress in eliminating hepatitis remains too slow, despite the availability of effective vaccines and treatments capable of ending the disease as a public health threat.
In its latest update, the UN health agency said viral hepatitis B and C—responsible for about 95 percent of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide—caused an estimated 1.34 million deaths in 2024. More than 1.8 million new infections are also recorded annually.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation as alarming, noting that “progress is too slow and uneven” due to persistent gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and access to care.
“Many people remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and inequitable access to care,” Tedros said. “We have the tools to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, but urgent scale-up is needed.”
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by infectious viruses and other agents, often leading to severe liver disease and cancer. The most dangerous strains, hepatitis B and C, remain the leading causes of hepatitis-related deaths globally.
According to the WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2026, about 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infection in 2024. Of the estimated 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B, fewer than 5 percent are currently receiving treatment. For hepatitis C, only about 20 percent of infected individuals have been treated since 2015.
The report also highlights significant regional disparities. In Africa—the region with the highest burden of hepatitis B—only 17 percent of newborns received the recommended birth dose vaccine in 2024.
Six countries—China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Vietnam—account for a large share of global hepatitis-related deaths.
WHO hepatitis expert Tereza Kasaeva stressed that every missed diagnosis represents a preventable loss of life. “Every untreated infection due to chronic viral hepatitis represents a preventable death,” she said.
Despite the challenges, WHO says elimination is achievable. The hepatitis B vaccine provides over 95 percent protection, while antiviral treatments can effectively manage chronic infection. Hepatitis C, meanwhile, can be cured in more than 95 percent of cases with short-term treatment lasting 8 to 12 weeks.
Some countries, including Egypt, Rwanda, Georgia, and the United Kingdom, have already demonstrated that elimination is possible with strong political commitment and sustained investment.
The report notes modest global progress since 2015, including a 32 percent decline in new hepatitis B infections and a 12 percent reduction in hepatitis C-related deaths. However, WHO warns that without accelerated action, global targets for elimination will remain out of reach.
Tedros reiterated that success depends on political will and funding, stating: “Eliminating hepatitis is not a pipedream—it is possible with sustained commitment.”
