Study reveals viral hepatitis more deadly than HIV/AIDS in Europe

The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) revealed on April 11 at the International Liver CongressTM 2014 that viral hepatitis is more deadly across European Union countries than HIV/AIDS. The study showed that in 2010, 10 times more deaths due to viral hepatitis occurred than those than those tied to HIV. Approximately 90,000 deaths were attributed to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) in 2010. “GBD 2010 is making a critical contribution to our understanding of present and future health priorities for countries and the global community,” European Association for the Study of the Liver Vice-Secretary Laurent Castera said. “Although HIV/AIDS undeniably remains a key global health priority, the higher mortality from viral hepatitis than from HIV/AIDS in the EU means that hepatitis B and C must clearly now be counted among the top global and local priorities for health.” Castera said more resources are needed to study...