Viral hepatitis claims 1 million lives each year

Viral hepatitis is responsible for one million deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. In the next ten years, it can claim the lives of over five million people in Southeast Asia. “The vast majority of people infected with hepatitis are unaware, undiagnosed and untreated. Only by increasing awareness of the different forms of hepatitis, and how they can be prevented and treated, can we take the first step towards full control of the disease and save thousands of lives,” said Dr. Sylvie Briand of the WHO Pandemic and Epidemic Disease Department in a media release. The WHO has adopted the theme “It’s closer than you think” for this year’s World Hepatitis Day, which is celebrated every 28th of July. A silent epidemic “There are an estimated 100 million people living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 30 million people with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the region,” the...