World Hepatitis Day is commemorated each year on 28 July, the birthday of doctor brunch Bloomberg (the discoverer of the hepatitis B virus and diagnostic methods and Treatment of this disease), to increase awareness of the different types of hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer.
In general, hepatitis is divided into two categories: infectious (viral) hepatitis and non-infectious hepatitis. Viral hepatitis is caused by infection with one of the five types of virus A, B, C, D or E. All of these viruses cause inflammation of the liver, and chronic hepatitis B and C can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Alcoholic hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis are also among the non-infectious types of hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis is the second leading cause of death from infectious diseases in the world after tuberculosis, and the number of people living with different types of hepatitis viruses in the world is nine times higher than the number of people living with HIV/AIDS. Viral hepatitis is a global health threat, and emphasis is placed on preventing and controlling the disease, and increasing vaccination. In fact, the ultimate goal is to eradicate viral hepatitis with universal health coverage by 2030.
Hepatitis is preventable, treatable, and in the case of hepatitis C, curable. However, due to lacking prevention, testing and treatment services over 80% of people are involved with this disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 325 million people worldwide are infected with viral hepatitis, of which about 90% are hepatitis B and C which kill more than 1.4 million people worldwide each year. This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns. On 28 July, WHO will publish new recommendations on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
