World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on July 28. It was created by the World Health Organization to raise global awareness of prevention and treatment of hepatitis – an inflammation of the liver that can cause a range of health problems, including liver cancer. This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
Viral hepatitis affects 400 million people around the world. However, 95% of people with hepatitis don’t know they have it because there are often no early symptoms. Another challenge to hepatitis prevention is that hepatitis testing can be both complex and costly in some countries.
While World Hepatitis Day focuses on a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E, hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths with 1.3 million lives lost each year. Watch the video below featuring Dr. Roderick Kreisberg and Dr. Darryn Potosky to find out why hepatitis C is called the “Silent Killer.”
Read on learn more about liver diseases and treatments.