Global efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis are beginning to show measurable results, with notable declines in infections and deaths over the past decade. However, the disease continues to pose a serious public health challenge, and progress remains too slow to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 elimination targets.

According to the 2026 Global Hepatitis Report, released by the World Health Organization at the World Hepatitis Summit, hepatitis B and C—the two deadliest forms of the disease—were responsible for approximately 1.34 million deaths in 2024. Despite advancements, transmission persists at an alarming rate, with nearly 4,900 new infections occurring every day, amounting to 1.8 million annually.

The report highlights significant progress since 2015. New hepatitis B infections have declined by 32%, while deaths caused by hepatitis C have dropped by 12% globally. Encouragingly, hepatitis B prevalence among children under five has fallen to 0.6%, with 85 countries achieving or surpassing the 2030 target of reducing prevalence to 0.1%.

These gains are largely attributed to coordinated global action following the adoption of hepatitis elimination targets by WHO Member States at the 2016 World Health Assembly. Yet, health experts warn that current momentum is insufficient.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that while elimination is achievable, major gaps remain. He noted that millions of people continue to live undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, fragile health systems, and unequal access to care. Without urgent scale-up in prevention, testing, and treatment, the 2030 targets may remain out of reach.

The global burden of hepatitis remains substantial. In 2024, an estimated 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections. That same year saw 900,000 new hepatitis B infections, with the WHO African Region accounting for a staggering 68% of cases. Despite this, only 17% of newborns in the region received the crucial birth-dose vaccination.

Hepatitis C continues to spread as well, with another 900,000 new infections recorded in 2024. Nearly 44% of these cases were among people who inject drugs, underscoring the urgent need for improved harm reduction strategies and safer injection practices.

Access to treatment remains a major concern. Of the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B, fewer than 5% were receiving treatment in 2024. Similarly, only about 20% of hepatitis C patients have received treatment since 2015, despite the availability of highly effective therapies that can cure the disease in as little as 8 to 12 weeks.

The consequences of these gaps are severe. In 2024 alone, hepatitis B caused an estimated 1.1 million deaths, while hepatitis C accounted for 240,000 fatalities. Most deaths were linked to complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, with a significant proportion occurring in the African and Western Pacific regions.

The burden of hepatitis is also concentrated in specific countries. Ten nations—including Bangladesh, China, India, Nigeria, and Indonesia—accounted for nearly 69% of global hepatitis B deaths. Hepatitis C-related deaths were more widely distributed, with countries such as China, the United States, Pakistan, and Russia among the most affected.

Despite these challenges, the report points to success stories in countries like Egypt, Georgia, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom, where sustained investment and political commitment have demonstrated that hepatitis elimination is achievable.

Health experts stress that effective tools are already available. Vaccination against hepatitis B provides more than 95% protection, long-term antiviral therapies can manage chronic infections, and short-course treatments for hepatitis C can cure over 95% of cases.

Dr. Tereza Kasaeva highlighted the urgency of closing existing gaps. She emphasized that every missed diagnosis represents a preventable death and called on countries to integrate hepatitis services into primary healthcare systems while focusing on high-risk populations.

The WHO report outlines several priority actions to accelerate progress. These include expanding treatment access, improving vaccination coverage—especially at birth—and strengthening prevention strategies such as safe medical practices and harm reduction services. It also calls for increased political commitment and sustainable financing to support national hepatitis programs.

As the global community moves closer to the 2030 deadline, experts agree that the path forward is clear—but requires immediate and decisive action. Without intensified efforts, millions more lives remain at risk from a disease that is both preventable and treatable.