It highlights the significant progress made in the fight against hepatitis B and C, which together account for 95 percent of all hepatitis-related deaths worldwide.
These infections caused 1.34 million deaths in 2024. Meanwhile, transmission continues at a rate of around 1.8 million infections per year, or more than 4,900 cases every day.
Viral infections
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can be spread through contact with infected bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, vaginal fluids and semen, or be passed from mother to baby.
The disease can be acute or chronic, with chronic infection increasing the risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus of the same name. Transmission is spread through exposure to infected blood from unsafe injections, such as sharing needles and syringes or unscreened blood transfusions.
A decade of gains
The Global Hepatitis Report 2026 documents progress since 2015. For example, new hepatitis B infections have decreased by 32 percent, while hepatitis C-related deaths have decreased by 12 percent.
The prevalence of hepatitis B in children under five also fell to 0.6 percent, with 85 countries meeting or exceeding the 2030 target of reducing prevalence to 0.1 percent.
Although this progress reflects sustained and coordinated international action towards the viral hepatitis elimination goals adopted at the 2016 World Health Assembly, current rates are insufficient to meet all elimination targets by 2030.
Urgent scaling is needed
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries had shown that “Eliminating hepatitis is not a pipe dream,” but efforts must accelerate.
“Many people go undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems and inequitable access to care,” he said.
“While we have the tools to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, an urgent scale-up of prevention, diagnosis and treatment is needed if the world is to meet the 2030 goals.”
Preventing hepatitis B infection through vaccination in early childhood significantly reduces chronic infections and cases of liver cancer and cirrhosis in adulthood.
Millions of people affected
The report estimates that 287 million people – or about 3% of the global population – were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infection in 2024..
Although the WHO African Region accounted for 68 percent of new hepatitis B infections, only 17 percent of newborns there received a dose of vaccination at birth.
When it comes to hepatitis C, people who inject drugs accounted for 44 percent of new infections, highlighting the need to strengthen harm reduction services and safe injection practices.
Limited access to treatment
Access to treatment also remains limited. Even if 240 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B in 2024, less than 5% received treatment.
Additionally, only 20 percent of people with hepatitis C have been treated since an effective new treatment became available in 2015.
Limited access to prevention and care continues to lead to mortality. In 2024, approximately 1.1 million people will die from hepatitis B and 240,000 from hepatitis C, mainly due to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Ten countries in Asia and Africa – Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Viet Nam – accounted for almost 70 percent of hepatitis B-related deaths worldwide that year.
Hepatitis C-related deaths are more geographically dispersed. In 2024, 10 countries accounted for 58 percent of global cases: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam.
A hepatitis C test is prepared for a client of the Ozone Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand. (deposit)
Proven solutions exist
Despite these challenges, WHO has highlighted the highly effective tools already available in the fight against the disease.
THE hepatitis B vaccineis more than 95 percent effective against acute and chronic infections, while long-term antiviral treatment can help manage chronic infections and prevent serious liver disease.
At the same time, short-course therapy for hepatitis C lasting 8 to 12 weeks, can cure more than 95 percent of cases.
“Progress is possible”
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, director of WHO’s HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections department, highlighted the need to improve access to care.
“Data shows progress is possible, but also reveals our gaps . Every missed diagnosis and untreated infection due to chronic viral hepatitis represents a preventable death,” she said.
“Countries must act more quickly to integrate hepatitis services for people living with hepatitis B and C into primary care and to reach the most affected communities. »
Priority actions
The report identifies priority actions to accelerate progress, including scaling up treatment for chronic hepatitis B, particularly in the WHO Africa and Western Pacific regions, and expanding access to hepatitis C treatment in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
He also calls for stronger political commitment and increased funding to expand accessvaccination against hepatitis B at birth and medications to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
The report also highlights the need to improve injection safety, both inside and outside of health care settings, including by strengthening harm reduction services for people who inject drugs.
