Viral Hepatitis Kills More Than AIDS, TB – WHO

Forum 7 years ago

Viral Hepatitis Kills More Than AIDS, TB – WHO

Scientists have raised the alarm over rising global deaths linked to viral hepatitis. They say that such mortality have risen by more than 60 per cent over two decades – partly due to a growing population. According to the findings of a study in the ‘Lancet’, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has therefore called on countries and organisations to expand vaccination programmes, focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B and increase access to treatment for Hepatitis B and C, to help ensure these targets were met.

The WHO hepatitis strategy, which was put forward in May 2016, includes targets to reduce new cases of Hepatitis B and C by 30 per cent by 2020, alongside a 10 per cent reduction in mortality. According to the study,viral hepatitis is one of the leading killers across the globe, with a death toll that matches AIDS or tuberculosis (TB). WHO estimates that hepatitis infections and their complications led to 1.45 million deaths in 2013 – despite the existence of vaccines and treatments. Similarly, the data shows that there were 1.2 million AIDS-related deaths in 2014, while TB led to 1.5 million deaths. Deaths from diseases such as TB and malaria have dropped, the world body stated.

Data from WHO estimates that worldwide, 400 million people are living with Hepatitis B or C and between 130 to 150 million people globally have chronic Hepatitis C infection. Hepatitis causes 80 per cent of liver cancer deaths, the study shows.

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver characterised by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. Dr. Graham Cooke of Imperial College London described the findings as startling. He said: “Although there are effective treatments and vaccines for viral hepatitis, there is very little money invested in getting these to patients – especially compared to malaria, HIV/AIDS and TB. “We have tools at our disposal to treat this disease – we have vaccines to treat hepatitis A and B and we have new treatments for C. “However, the price of new medicines is beyond the reach of any country – rich or poor.”