World Hepatitis Day | 29 Jul 2024

Source: HT

World Hepatitis Day, observed on 28th July, raises awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and cancer.

• The date of 28th July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
• Theme 2024: “It’s time for action.” 
• Hepatitis symptoms include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-coloured bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice.
• Hepatitis has 5 main strains - A, B, C, D, and E, each with distinct transmission methods and health effects. Hepatitis B and C are the most common, causing 1.3 million deaths and 2.2 million new infections annually. With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness.
  • Additional causes include drug and alcohol misuse, fatty liver hepatitis, and autoimmune response targeting the liver.

• Initiatives to Tackle Hepatitis:

  • India: National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the country by 2030),  India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) (offers free vaccination including Hepatitis B).

    Global: World Health Organization (WHO) Elimination of hepatitis by 2030 (reduce new hepatitis infections by 90% and deaths by 65% between 2016 and 2030).

Read more: Global Hepatitis Report 2024