World Hepatitis Day 2025

"Separate: Understand, Prevent, and Know Hepatitis"

Viral hepatitis remains a silent global public health threat that is often overlooked around the world. Even today, there are effective methods of prevention and treatment.

Currently, there are more than 300 million people worldwide. who are living with hepatitis infection, especially types B (HBV) and C (HCV), which are the main causes of liver cancer. One of the cancers with the 3rd highest mortality rate in the world. If there are no serious proactive management measures, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that by 2040, there could be up to 1.4 million people diagnosed with liver cancer and up to 1.3 million deaths from this cancer. 

Is it time to take action!?

• Vaccines: The first layer of protection

Vaccination against hepatitis B within 24 hours of birth is an important measure to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

• Screening: The first step towards treatment

Screening is an important tool to help diagnose and treat diseases in a timely manner. It should be included as one of the main strategies for the control of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and expand access through the primary health service system as well as the network of community organizations.

• Antiviral drugs: treatable Preventable

Antiviral treatment plays an important role in slowing the progression of the disease from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and significantly reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

• Liver Cancer Surveillance: Faster Detection, More Survival

Global academic organizations recommend that people with chronic hepatitis infection If detected in the early stages, it will increase the chance of survival in 5 years to 70%, while patients in the advanced stage have a survival rate of only 20%.

On the occasion of this year's World Hepatitis Day, Under the concept of "Let's Break It Down: Get the Facts, Take Action", we would like to be a part of the campaign to raise awareness about hepatitis so that all groups of people can access accurate information. Promote awareness and push for a concrete prevention and screening system because 'know quickly. Treatable Prevention first' is the key to a sustainable end to hepatitis.

Reference List

1. Smith A, Hicks J, Shaw S, Razavi-Shearer D, Razavi H, James C. Beating cancer through hepatitis elimination – working together to reduce NCDs [Internet]. 2025 [cited 2025 June 1]. Available from: https://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Liver-Cancer-White-Paper.pdf

2. Elderkin J, Al Hallak N, Azmi AS, Aoun H, Critchfield J, Tobon M, et al. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Surveillance, Diagnosis, Evaluation and Management. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(21):5118.

3. Calderon-Martinez E, Landazuri-Navas S, Vilchez E, Cantu-Hernandez R, Johanna Mosquera-Moscoso J, Encalada S, et al. Prognostic Scores and Survival Rates by Etiology of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Review. J Clin Med Res. 2023;15(4):200-7.