To the viral hepatitis cause the death of approximately 3,500 people per day all around the world . The information is from “Global Hepatitis Report 2024″ released by the WHO (World Health Organization) this Tuesday (9).
According to the entity, the disease is the second leading infectious cause of death worldwide, with 1.3 million deaths per year, behind only tuberculosis.
O report highlights that, although there are currently better tools for the diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis, testing rates and treatment coverage have stagnated around the world. On the other hand, the WHO's goal of treating 80% of people with the disease by 2030 should be achievable if rapid action is taken.
The pushing brings together data from 187 countries and shows that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis has increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022 .
Of these, 83% were caused by hepatitis B and 17% by hepatitis C.
“This report paints a worrying picture: despite global progress in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated,” says WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in statement. “WHO is committed to supporting countries to use all the tools at their disposal – at affordable prices – to save lives and reverse this trend.”
254 million people were living with hepatitis B in 2022, according to the WHO
Also according to the report, 254 million people were living with hepatitis B It is 5 million with hepatitis C in 2022. Half of those affected were between 30 and 54 years of age and only 12% were under 18 years of age. Men represent 58% of all cases.
New incidence estimates indicate a slight reduction in viral hepatitis cases in 2022 compared to 2019, but the overall incidence remains high. In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections; in 2019, the number was 2.5 million.
According to the WHO, of the total new cases, 1.2 million were due to hepatitis B and almost 1 million were due to hepatitis C. About 6 thousand people are infected with viral hepatitis every day .
Number of people diagnosed and treated appropriately is still considered low
Still according to the report, in all regions, Only 13% of people living with chronic hepatitis B infection had been diagnosed and approximately 3% had received antiviral therapy by the end of 2022 . Regarding hepatitis C, 36% had been diagnosed and 20% had received curative treatment.
These data fall well below the global targets of treating 80% of people living with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C by 2030. Even so, there has been a small improvement in diagnosis and treatment coverage since the last estimates released in 2019. According with the report, hepatitis B diagnosis increased from 10% to 13%, while treatment increased from 2% to 3%. Regarding hepatitis C, diagnosis rates increased from 21% to 36%, and treatment rates increased from 13% to 20%.
The region with the highest incidence of viral hepatitis, according to the WHO, is African region , corresponding to 63% of new hepatitis B infections , with only 18% of newborns receiving the vaccination dose against the disease at birth. The Western Pacific region is responsible for 47% of hepatitis B deaths and treatment coverage among those infected is 23%, which is significantly low to reduce mortality, according to the entity.
Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation and Vietnam collectively bear almost two-thirds of the global burden of hepatitis B and C, according to the WHO.
Prevention of viral hepatitis
Viral hepatitis are infections that attack the liver , causing its degeneration. The most common types of viral hepatitis in Brazil, according to the Ministry of Health, are those caused by viruses A, B and C . There are also, less frequently, the hepatitis D virus and the hepatitis E virus.
Infections caused by hepatitis B and C often become chronic which can seriously compromise the liver, contributing to the development of cancer and the need for organ transplantation.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through contact of contaminated feces with the mouth and is closely related to the consumption of contaminated food or water and low levels of basic sanitation. It can be prevented by properly washing hands and kitchen utensils and cooking food well before consuming it. There is also a vaccine against hepatitis A, which is the main form of prevention.
Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or during childbirth and the main form of prevention is the vaccine, which is available in the SUS (Unified Health System) for all unvaccinated people, regardless of age.
Hepatitis C can be transmitted through contact with contaminated blood, through failure to sterilize medical, dental or aesthetic equipment, through sexual intercourse without condoms and through transmission from mother to child during pregnancy.
There is no vaccine against hepatitis C and, therefore, Preventive measures include the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, not sharing any object that may have come into contact with blood and, in the case of pregnant women, undergoing prenatal care .
Source: CNN Brasil
I am an experienced journalist and writer with a career in the news industry. My focus is on covering Top News stories for World Stock Market, where I provide comprehensive analysis and commentary on markets around the world. I have expertise in writing both long-form articles and shorter pieces that deliver timely, relevant updates to readers.
