World Hepatitis Day spotlights deadly gaps in testing, vaccination and awareness, as experts say millions of lives can still be saved with early detection and treatment.

Nearly 287 million people worldwide were living with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2024, yet a significant number remain unaware of their infection, according to global health data released ahead of World Hepatitis Day marked on July 28.

Health experts warn that the disease continues to claim lives on a massive scale, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths recorded in the past year alone. This is despite the fact that hepatitis is largely preventable, treatable, and in the case of hepatitis C, curable.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the persistence of hepatitis as a global health threat is driven not by a lack of medical solutions, but by barriers such as poor awareness, social stigma, and limited access to testing and treatment services.

“Hepatitis doesn’t have to be a death sentence,” public health advocates stress, noting that many infected individuals only discover their status when the disease has already caused severe liver damage.

A major concern highlighted in the latest figures is the low rate of early vaccination. In 2024, only 45 per cent of newborns globally received the critical hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth — a key intervention proven to prevent lifelong infection.

WHO is using this year’s World Hepatitis Day campaign to push a simple but urgent message: break down the barriers preventing people from accessing lifesaving care. The organisation is calling on governments, health institutions and individuals to scale up testing, expand vaccination coverage and tackle misinformation surrounding the disease.

Medical professionals advise that people, especially those at risk or who have never been tested, should undergo screening for hepatitis B and C. Early diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes and reduces transmission.

They also emphasise the importance of public education in combating stigma, which often discourages individuals from seeking help or disclosing their status.

With proven tools already available, global health leaders insist that the fight against hepatitis is no longer about discovery, but about implementation.

“If awareness improves and access to care expands, millions of deaths can be prevented,” experts say.

As World Hepatitis Day is observed, the message remains clear: turning knowledge into action could save millions of lives and bring the world closer to eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat.