WHO to launch global policy report

Hepatitis is a silent epidemic that kills two people per minute throughout the world

PAHO/WHO urges everyone to become better informed about hepatitis, to get screened for the disease and to seek treatment, if needed

Washington, D.C., 23 July 2013 (PAHO/WHO) - Viral hepatitis affects some 424 million people throughout the world, killing 1.4 million per year as a result of complications such as acute liver failure, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. The disease is sometimes called a "silent epidemic" because most people who are infected are unaware of their status.

The theme of this year's World Hepatitis Day, July 28, is "This is the hepatitis. Know It. Confront it." This year the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is marking the day by calling on everyone to become better informed about hepatitis, to get screened for the disease and to seek treatment, if needed.

"People know very little about hepatitis, its potential severity, and its serious consequences for health and quality of life," said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne. "We therefore need to intensify our information, education and communication initiatives around this disease and take action to promote prevention and early detection so people can get the treatment they need."

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver generally caused by a viral infection. Five principal types of hepatitis virus are known: A, B, C, D and E, which can be transmitted through a variety of routes including unprotected sexual intercourse, unsafe injecting and piercing practices and through contaminated water or food. These cause infection and severe and chronic inflammation of the liver, which in turn can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. In the Americas, between 8 million and 11 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B infection, and 7 million have chronic hepatitis C.

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