Global efforts to combat viral hepatitis are delivering measurable progress in reducing infections and deaths, yet the disease continues to pose a formidable global health challenge, according to a pivotal new World Health Organization (WHO) report released today at the World Hepatitis Summit. The report underscores a critical juncture in the global fight against these silent epidemics, revealing significant strides made since 2015 but warning that current rates of progress are insufficient to achieve ambitious elimination targets by 2030, necessitating an immediate and drastic scale-up of prevention, testing, and treatment initiatives worldwide.

A Decade of Progress and Persistent Threats

The 2026 Global Hepatitis Report, unveiled during the high-profile World Hepatitis Summit, provides a comprehensive overview of the global burden of viral hepatitis and the efficacy of ongoing intervention strategies. Viral hepatitis B and C, responsible for a staggering 95% of hepatitis-related fatalities globally, tragically claimed 1.34 million lives in 2024, the latest available data indicates. This grim statistic is further compounded by the relentless pace of new transmissions, with over 4,900 individuals acquiring new infections every single day, culminating in approximately 1.8 million new cases each year. These figures underscore the pervasive nature of the disease and the continuing vulnerability of populations worldwide despite concerted efforts.

However, the report also meticulously documents encouraging gains achieved since 2015, a period marked by intensified global commitment. The annual number of new hepatitis B infections has seen a commendable reduction of 32%, demonstrating the impact of vaccination programs and improved public health interventions. Similarly, hepatitis C-related deaths have fallen by 12% globally, a testament to the revolutionary advent of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments. A particularly notable success highlighted is the reduction of hepatitis B prevalence among children under five years of age, which has decreased to 0.6%. This achievement is further underscored by the fact that 85 countries have either met or surpassed the ambitious 2030 target of 0.1% prevalence in this vulnerable age group, showcasing the profound effectiveness of birth-dose vaccination programs.

These significant accomplishments are a direct reflection of sustained, coordinated global and national action initiated following the landmark adoption of WHO viral hepatitis elimination targets by Member States at the World Health Assembly in 2016. The Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis (GHSS) 2016-2021, endorsed at that time, outlined specific targets including a 90% reduction in new chronic infections and a 65% reduction in deaths by 2030, alongside achieving 90% diagnosis and 80% treatment rates. The progress made thus far validates the strategic direction set forth by the WHO and its partners, demonstrating that targeted interventions can yield tangible results. Yet, the report issues a stark caution: the current pace of advancement remains too sluggish to meet all 2030 elimination targets, emphasizing the urgent need for a drastic acceleration of prevention, testing, and treatment efforts globally.

Leadership’s Call for Sustained Commitment

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, articulated the dual nature of the report’s findings. "Around the world, countries are showing that eliminating hepatitis is not a pipedream; it’s possible with sustained political commitment, backed by reliable domestic financing," he stated during the summit. His remarks underscored the feasibility of the elimination goal, citing successful national programs as exemplars. However, he quickly tempered this optimism with a sobering assessment: "At the same time, this report shows that progress is too slow and uneven. Many people remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and inequitable access to care. While we have the tools to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, urgent scale-up of prevention, diagnosis and treatment is needed if the world is to meet the 2030 targets." Dr. Tedros’s statement serves as a potent call to action, urging global leaders to bridge the existing gaps in care delivery and address systemic barriers that impede progress.

The Global Burden: A Deeper Dive into the Data

The updated WHO estimates paint a detailed, albeit concerning, picture of the global burden. In 2024, an estimated 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infection. These infections, often asymptomatic for decades, silently progress to severe liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), which are the primary causes of hepatitis-related deaths.

Breaking down the new infection rates for 2024, approximately 0.9 million individuals were newly infected with hepatitis B. A significant portion of this burden, 68%, was concentrated in the WHO African Region. This disproportionate share is particularly alarming given that only 17% of newborns in the region received the crucial hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, a highly effective intervention that prevents mother-to-child transmission and is foundational to hepatitis B elimination strategies. This glaring gap in vaccination coverage highlights a critical area for immediate intervention and investment.

Concurrently, another 0.9 million hepatitis C infections were recorded in 2024. A worrying 44% of these new infections were attributed to people who inject drugs (PWID), underscoring the urgent need for robust harm reduction services, including needle and syringe programs, opioid agonist therapy, and safe injection practices. The interconnectedness of hepatitis C transmission with social determinants of health and marginalized communities is a persistent challenge that demands integrated, compassionate, and evidence-based public health responses.

Persistent Gaps in Diagnosis and Treatment

Despite the availability of highly effective treatments, access remains severely limited. Of the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B in 2024, fewer than 5% were receiving treatment. This represents a monumental treatment gap, leaving millions vulnerable to disease progression and transmission. For hepatitis C, while revolutionary 12-week treatments with cure rates of about 95% became widely available around 2015, only 20% of people with the infection have been treated since then. These figures reveal a profound disparity between medical advancement and real-world access, largely attributable to issues of affordability, lack of diagnostic infrastructure, and insufficient healthcare workforce capacity.

The direct consequence of these limited prevention and care services is a devastating toll on human lives. In 2024, an estimated 1.1 million people succumbed to hepatitis B, and 240,000 to hepatitis C. As noted, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were the predominant causes of these hepatitis-related deaths. A significant share of hepatitis B-related deaths occurred in the African and Western Pacific Regions, regions that also bear a substantial burden of new infections and limited access to care.

The report further pinpoints geographical hotspots for mortality. Ten countries—Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, and Viet Nam—accounted for a staggering 69% of hepatitis B related deaths worldwide in 2024. These nations, often characterized by large populations, varying levels of healthcare infrastructure, and high prevalence rates, represent critical foci for intensified interventions. Hepatitis C-related deaths, while globally dispersed, also show significant concentration, with ten countries—China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, South Africa, the United States of America, and Viet Nam—responsible for 58% of the global total in 2024. This data provides a clear roadmap for resource allocation and strategic planning, highlighting where interventions can have the most profound impact.

Proven Solutions and Success Stories

Despite these significant challenges, the report offers a beacon of hope by showcasing countries that have demonstrated remarkable progress. Nations such as Egypt, Georgia, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom serve as compelling examples that eliminating hepatitis as a public health problem is not merely an aspiration but an achievable reality with sustained political commitment and strategic investment. Egypt, for instance, launched an ambitious national hepatitis C screening and treatment program that reached millions, drastically reducing prevalence rates. Georgia achieved elimination status for hepatitis C through a comprehensive ‘test-and-treat’ approach. These success stories provide invaluable lessons and blueprints for other nations grappling with the disease, proving that highly effective tools are already available and, when deployed strategically, can yield transformative results.

Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the WHO Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, reinforced this perspective. "The data shows that progress is possible but also reveals where we are falling short. Every missed diagnosis and untreated infection due to chronic viral hepatitis represents a preventable death," she emphasized. Her statement underscores the moral imperative to act and highlights the tangible human cost of inaction. Dr. Kasaeva further called for concrete action: "Countries must move faster to integrate hepatitis services for people living with hepatitis B and C into primary care, and to reach the communities most affected." This emphasis on integration into primary healthcare is crucial for achieving universal health coverage and ensuring equitable access to care, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Priority Actions for Accelerated Elimination

The report does not merely identify challenges; it outlines a clear set of priority actions essential to accelerate hepatitis elimination as a public health threat. These include:

• Scaling up treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection: This is particularly critical in the WHO African and Western Pacific regions, where the burden of new infections and deaths is highest. Expanding access to affordable antiviral medications can prevent disease progression and reduce transmission.
• Expanding access to hepatitis C treatment: The focus here is particularly on the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, which faces a significant burden. Leveraging the affordability of generic direct-acting antivirals and simplifying treatment pathways are key to this expansion.
• Stronger political commitment and financing: Domestic funding, complemented by international support, is indispensable for sustaining and scaling up hepatitis programs. Political will translates into resource allocation and policy implementation.
• Improved coverage of hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination: This intervention is foundational to preventing mother-to-child transmission and is especially vital in the WHO African Region, where coverage remains alarmingly low.
• Expanded antiviral prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV infection: Beyond vaccination, providing antiviral medication to pregnant women with high viral loads can further reduce the risk of transmission to their infants, safeguarding future generations.
• Improved injection safety: This encompasses both healthcare settings, where unsafe injection practices can lead to iatrogenic transmission, and community practices, particularly among people who inject drugs. Strengthening harm reduction services is paramount in this regard.

Broader Implications and the Path Forward

The fight against viral hepatitis is inextricably linked to broader global health and development agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. Achieving hepatitis elimination targets would significantly contribute to reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and strengthening universal health coverage. The economic implications of chronic hepatitis are also substantial, encompassing not only direct healthcare costs but also indirect costs related to lost productivity due to illness and premature death. By preventing infections and treating existing cases, societies can mitigate these economic burdens and foster healthier, more productive populations.

The WHO’s report serves as a robust call to action, reinforcing that while significant progress has been made, complacency is not an option. The remaining journey to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 requires renewed urgency, greater investment, and unwavering political commitment. Integrating hepatitis services into primary healthcare, reaching key affected populations, and ensuring equitable access to proven prevention and treatment tools are not just medical imperatives but ethical and societal obligations. The global community possesses the knowledge, the tools, and the collective will to consign viral hepatitis to the annals of history as a public health threat, but only through accelerated, coordinated, and sustained action will this ambitious vision be realized. The World Hepatitis Summit provides the platform, and the WHO report delivers the roadmap; now, the onus is on nations and stakeholders worldwide to translate these insights into decisive action.