New data reveals 52 million children globally affected by viral hepatitis, highlighting the need for treatment and prevention. Despite declining hepatitis B infections among children, cases of hepatitis C are expected to continue growing due to lack of programs for pregnant women living with the virus.
A 12-week course of hepatitis C drugs can be manufactured for just $50, making it cheaper than a plane ticket on many low-cost airlines. Generic copies are as effective as branded medicines, but restrictions and patent issues prevent widespread access.
The UK is struggling to find undiagnosed hepatitis C patients due to lack of awareness about deadly virus and new treatment drugs. Experts estimate that at least 100,000 people remain undiagnosed, threatening the country's goal to eliminate the disease by 2030.
Nine countries are making progress towards eliminating hepatitis C, thanks to innovative approaches and increased funding. Brazil, Egypt, Australia, and Georgia are leading the way with mass screenings, vaccination campaigns, and risk-sharing agreements.
A record 1.76 million people with hepatitis C were treated in 2016, but most countries are running out of patients to treat due to low diagnosis rates. Countries must boost diagnosis rates to achieve elimination targets by 2030.
New data reveals that only half of Americans with hepatitis C are aware of their condition, leading to missed opportunities for effective treatments. The lack of routine screening, asymptomatic nature of the disease, and restricted Medicaid coverage in some states contribute to these poor outcomes.
Australia is currently on track to eliminate hepatitis C due to its efforts in enabling population-wide access to treatment. However, maintaining high annual treatment numbers is crucial to meet the 2030 elimination target. For hepatitis B, progress is slower, and a significant commitment is needed to achieve the elimination goals.
Chronic hepatitis B and C cause life-threatening liver damage, cancer, and premature death, with 300 million infected worldwide. Donors are essential to deliver results in the next 13 years, as domestic funding is unlikely to meet the challenge.
According to the Global Burden of Disease study, viral hepatitis causes over 1.34 million deaths worldwide, exceeding chronic infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Alaska's comprehensive hepatitis A vaccination program, established in the 1990s, has dramatically reduced the virus's presence among native peoples. The program's success is attributed to widespread vaccination requirements for school entry, resulting in an 88% decline in imported cases since 2008.
A study shows that Alaska's universal hepatitis B vaccination programme has wiped out hepatitis B infection and liver cancer cases in the state's young people. The program, introduced in the 1980s, led to a significant decrease in acute symptomatic HBV infection and liver cancer cases among Alaskan Native children, with no reported cas...
The Cherokee Nation has screened almost half of its population for hepatitis C and is on track to eliminate the virus. The tribe's progress towards elimination is attributed to the development of new antiviral drugs and collaboration with healthcare organizations.
A new meta-analysis reveals that Indigenous Peoples are significantly more likely to contract viral hepatitis due to factors like poverty, injection drug use, and lack of access to healthcare. The study shows disparities in prevalence rates across North America, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The WHO's Global Hepatitis Report provides a comprehensive understanding of the disease's impact, revealing 325 million people living with viral hepatitis and 1.34 million annual deaths. To reverse this trend, scaling up birth dose vaccination against hepatitis B and improving access to affordable treatment are key actions needed.