The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that by 2040, the number of deaths caused by hepatitis will surpass those caused by AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
Recent data released by the WHO shows that various types of hepatitis kill nearly one million people every year around the world. WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, noted that besides the deaths, a large number of people worldwide are living with the disease.
He stated, “Millions of people globally live with hepatitis without knowing it, even though today we have modern tools for its prevention and treatment. The WHO remains committed to helping countries achieve the means to diagnose and treat this disease.”
Dr. Tedros further emphasized that if no action is taken, by 2040, the death toll from hepatitis will exceed that of AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined.
While Hepatitis B and C are the most well-known, there are five types of hepatitis caused by different viruses: A, B, C, D, and E. Currently, Hepatitis C is treatable and can be cured, while Hepatitis B has medications that can reduce its severity.
Hepatitis is transmitted through contact with infected blood, and it can also spread through unprotected sexual contact or exposure to contaminated bodily fluids.
Data from the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) indicates that the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C dropped from 4% in 2018 to between 1-2% in 2021.
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