Millions going undiagnosed with hepatitis

Millions of people living with viral hepatitis remain undiagnosed and untreated despite the availability of vaccines, testing, and effective medicines that prevent serious illness and death.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it made the call ahead of World Hepatitis Day, observed annually on 28 July, to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that could lead to severe liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

This year’s theme, ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break it Down’, focuses on removing the barriers that prevent people from accessing life-saving prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care services.