World Hepatitis Day 2023

On World Hepatitis Day 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) will host a global webinar in collaboration with partners worldwide, to raise awareness about the epidemic of viral hepatitis. The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2023 is “One life, one liver”, to highlight the importance of the liver to the strategy to eliminate viral hepatitis. WHO aims to achieve elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is also promoting the “One life, one liver” message. The webinar will be held at 13:00–15:00 CEST on Friday 28 July 2023.

Viral hepatitis causes more than 1 million deaths per year, including deaths due to liver cancer caused by hepatitis infection. In 2019, infection with hepatitis B virus resulted in an estimated 820 000 deaths worldwide. More than 8000 new infections with hepatitis B and C virus occur each day, which is more than 5 new infections every minute. If the current trajectory continues, experts estimate that by 2040 viral hepatitis will kill more people annually than malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.

Many hepatitis infections and deaths can be prevented. Infections with hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis D virus can all be prevented with vaccines that are safe, available, and effective. WHO recommends that all infants receive a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours, followed by two or three doses at least 4 weeks apart to complete the vaccination series.