The World Hepatitis Day is being observed today across the world. The WHO and partners urge policy-makers, health workers and the public to “think again” about this silent killer.
Viral hepatitis a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E affects millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to 1.4 million people every year.
Hepatitis remains largely ignored or unknown. In April this year, the WHO issued new recommendations on treatment of Hepatitis C. In May, the World Health Assembly delegates from 194 member states adopted a resolution to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral hepatitis.
The WHO says 240 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus and 150 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus, while 20 per cent Hepatitis E can induce a mortality rate of 20 per cent among pregnant women in their third trimester.