Hepatitis
The group of viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, D and E) that cause acute and/or chronic infection and inflammation of the liver gives rise to a major public health problem globally. Hepatitis B and C viruses are major causes of severe illness and death. The global burden of disease due to acute hepatitis B and C and to cancer and cirrhosis of the liver is high (about 2.7% of all deaths) and is forecast to become a higher ranked cause of death over the next two decades. An estimated 57% of cases of liver cirrhosis and 78% of cases of primary liver cancer result from hepatitis B or C virus infection.
About 2000 million people have been infected with hepatitis B virus worldwide, of whom more than 350 million are chronically infected, and between 500 000 and 700 000 people die annually as a result of hepatitis B virus infection.
Some 130–170 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus, and more than 350 000 people are estimated to die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases each year.
Vaccination is one of the strategies used to prevent hepatitis infection. Vaccines exist against hepatitis A and B. Effective candidate vaccines for hepatitis E prevention exist. Some progress has been shown in developing candidate vaccines against hepatitis C.
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Key documents
- Viral hepatitis - Report by the WHO Secretariat to the 63rd World Health Assembly [pdf 48Kb]
- Viral hepatitis policy and practice: Report of a survey of WHO Member States, 2010
Last updated: 23 March 2011