World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28th July to enhance awareness regarding disease caused by the hepatitis virus. This year’s theme was “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B (HBV) among mothers and newborns.

Hepatitis refers to an inflammatory condition of the liver that causes a range of health problems, and can even lead to liver cancer. It’s usually caused due to a viral infection, but there are other possible causes of hepatitis. These include autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis that occurs as a secondary result of medications, drugs, toxins, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Hepatitis virus is the major causative agent that causes hepatitis. There are five main types of hepatitis viruses referred to as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Of these, types A and E usually cause acute disease while hepatitis due to type B, C, and D viruses are most likely to become ongoing and chronic. Together, Hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.4 million lives lost each year.

World Health Organization particularly focused on Hepatitis B on the Hepatitis Day this year. Hepatitis B (HBV) is a serious disease that can be transmitted to an infant from the mother. But good thing is that HBV can be prevented among newborns through the use of a safe and effective vaccine.

On World Hepatitis Day, WHO called for united action by the global community to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV through testing pregnant women and the provision of antiviral prophylaxis to those who need it and maintaining and expanding access to hepatitis B immunization and birth dose vaccine. Globally, more than 250 million people are living with chronic HBV infection. Infants are especially vulnerable: about 90% of children infected with HBV in their first year of life become chronic HBV carriers. HBV attacks the liver and claims the lives of nearly 900,000 people each year.

Infants can be protected from HBV through a safe and effective vaccine that provides over 95% protection against infection. WHO recommends that all infants receive a first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine as soon as possible after birth – preferably within 24 hours – followed by at least 2 additional doses.

According to new estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO):

• The proportion of children under five years of age chronically infected with hepatitis B (HBV) dropped to just under 1% in 2019 down from around 5% in the pre-vaccine era (the period between the 1980s and the early 2000s),

• This marks the achievement of one of the milestone targets to eliminate viral hepatitis in the Sustainable Development Goals ─ to reach under 1% prevalence of HBV infections in children under five years of age by 2020.

Director-General WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus briefed media yesterday, he said:

“No infant should grow up only to die of hepatitis B because they were not vaccinated ─ today’s milestone means that we have dramatically reduced the number of cases of liver damage and liver cancer in future generations."

He further said:

"Preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B is the most important strategy for controlling the disease and saving lives. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure that mothers and newborns have access to life-saving services including hepatitis B vaccinations.”