India trails only China in prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections

In 2022, India had 3.5 crore infections, making it 2nd highest globally

WHO report proposes a set of measures aimed at tackling viral hepatitis

According to a recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), India trails only China in the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections. In 2022, India accounted for 3.5 crore infections, making it the second-highest globally. Hepatitis, which causes liver inflammation and can lead to severe health issues, remains a significant concern.

Globally, the WHO estimates that 254 million people had hepatitis B and 50 million had hepatitis C in 2022. India’s burden is substantial, with 2.98 crore cases of hepatitis B and 55 lakh cases of hepatitis C. China surpassed India with 8.3 crore combined cases of hepatitis B and C, representing 27.5% of the total global burden.

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The report emphasizes the severity of the issue, highlighting that India accounted for 11.6% of the global disease burden in 2022. Shockingly, the report also reveals that 3,500 people succumb to hepatitis B and C infections each day worldwide.

Notably, half of the chronic hepatitis B and C cases affect individuals aged 30–54, with 12% impacting children under 18. Furthermore, men constitute 58% of all cases.

In response to this pressing public health issue, the report proposes a set of measures aimed at tackling viral hepatitis effectively, with the ultimate goal of eradicating the epidemic by 2030. These actions are crucial to curb the escalating prevalence of hepatitis and mitigate its devastating impact on global health.