world hepatitis day – eliminate hepatitis
Today is World Hepatitis Day. World Hepatitis Day takes places every year on July 28th to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to bring about real change. This year’s theme is “Eliminate Hepatitis”.
The World Health Organization is reporting that new data indicates that efforts to eliminate hepatitis are gaining momentum. The world is poised to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2013. This means achieving a 90% reduction in new infections and a 65% reduction in deaths in the period leading up to 2030.
According to statistics from WHO, 325 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis; 1.34 million died of hepatitis in 2015 globally and; 95% of people with hepatitis C can be completely cured within 2 – 3 months.
Hepatitis can be fully prevented and treated. There are effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B and new hepatitis C treatment can cure in more than 95% of cases.
Viral hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. There are five hepatitis viruses, A, B, C, D and E.
Hepatitis A is primarily spread when someone ingests the virus from contact with food, drinks, or objects contaminated by feces from an infected person or has close personal contact with someone who is infected. Hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease and is rarely fatal, but it can cause serious symptoms. Hepatitis A can be prevented through improved sanitation, food safety, and vaccination.
Hepatitis B, one of five types of viral hepatitis, can be transmitted through bodily fluids (such as blood and semen) and transmitted from mother to baby at birth. Currently, 90% of children infected before 1 year of age develop chronic hepatitis B. There are effective vaccines and treatments for hepatitis B. The hepatitis B vaccine is most effective when infants receive the first dose within 12 hours of birth. This timeframe can prevent an infection that would likely progress to chronic hepatitis B.
Hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood of an infected person. Infection can occur through injection drug use and unsafe medical injections and other medical procedures. Mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis C is also possible. Hepatitis C can cause both acute and chronic infections, but most people who get infected develop a chronic infection. A significant number of those who are chronically infected will develop liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. With new treatments, over 90% of people with hepatitis C can be cured within 2-3 months, reducing the risk of death from liver cancer and cirrhosis. The first step for people living with hepatitis C to benefit from treatments is to get tested and linked to care. There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C but research in this area is ongoing.
Hepatitis D is passed through contact with infected blood. Hepatitis D only occurs in people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus. People who are not already infected with hepatitis B can prevent hepatitis D by getting vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Hepatitis E is spread mainly through contaminated drinking water. Hepatitis E usually clears in 4-6 weeks so there is no specific treatment. However, pregnant women infected with hepatitis E are at considerable risk of mortality from this infection. Hepatitis E is found worldwide, but the number of infections is highest in East and South Asia. Improved sanitation and food safety can help prevent new cases of hepatitis E. A vaccine to prevent hepatitis E has been developed and is licensed in China, but is not yet available elsewhere.
RESOURCES
CDC Hepatitis Training Resources
Hepatitis A Patient Education Resources
Hepatitis B Patient Education Resources
Hepatitis C Patient Education Resources
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