People
WHO Report: Hepatitis Viruses Claim 3,500 Lives Daily Worldwide
In a startling wake-up call, the World Health Organization reveals a harrowing surge in hepatitis-related deaths, surpassing 3,500 fatalities daily worldwide! With the toll climbing, urgent measures are demanded to combat this silent killer.”
“According to the latest WHO report unveiled at the World Hepatitis Summit, deaths from viral hepatitis spiked to 1.3 million in 2022, marking a distressing rise from 1.1 million in 2019.”
“Meg Doherty, head of WHO’s global HIV, hepatitis, and sexually-transmitted infection programs, sounded the alarm, dubbing these trends ‘alarming’ during a press conference.”
“Despite the availability of effective and affordable generic drugs, only a dismal fraction of those afflicted are receiving treatment. Shockingly, by the end of 2022, merely three percent of chronic hep B cases and a mere 20 percent of hep C cases had been treated, falling far below global treatment targets.”
“While there’s a slight dip in hepatitis infections, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes a ‘troubling picture,’ highlighting the paradox of rising deaths amid global prevention efforts.”
“Africa shoulders a staggering 63 percent of new hep B infections, yet vaccination rates for infants on the continent remain dismally low. Moreover, affected countries face barriers in accessing generic drugs, exacerbating the crisis.”
“Identifying ten key nations bearing the brunt of this crisis, including Bangladesh, China, and Nigeria, WHO advocates for universal access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment by 2025 to steer the global response back on course.”
“As viral hepatitis emerges as the second-largest infectious killer, the world stands at a critical juncture, with decisive action imperative to stem this deadly tide.
