Millions in Europe unknowingly living with hepatitis, health authorities warn
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in a new report that around five million people in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway are living with chronic hepatitis B or C – but the majority are undiagnosed and untreated.
Often referred to as 'silent infections', hepatitis B and C can live undetected in the body for years, slowly damaging the liver until symptoms appear in the form of liver fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis, or cancer.
The virus is typically spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids, including through unprotected sex or shared drug equipment.
The report estimates that 3.2 million people in the region are infected with hepatitis B, and 1.8 million have hepatitis C. Together, these viruses are linked to roughly 50,000 deaths every year.
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'We must underline the critical importance of scaling up efforts to prevent and control viral hepatitis," Dr Marieke van der Werf, the head of the ECDC's section on blood-borne viruses and tuberculosis, said in a statement.
She said access to vaccination, testing, and medical care for infected people "are essential for a healthier, more resilient Europe".
According to the ECDC, more than 65 per cent of those with hepatitis B and 62 per cent of those with hepatitis C are still undiagnosed.
Hepatitis C can be cured with a short course of highly effective antiviral medications. While hepatitis B cannot currently be cured, it can be managed with long-term treatment that helps suppress the virus and reduce the risk of liver damage.
Meanwhile, hepatitis A, which spreads via infected stool, is an acute infection that typically resolves on its own.
Globally, chronic viral hepatitis causes an estimated 1.3 million deaths each year. That's around 3,500 deaths every day, putting it on par with tuberculosis (TB).
The World Health Organization says 2.8 million of these deaths could be prevented by 2030, and has called on governments to embed hepatitis screening and treatment into primary healthcare, especially for vulnerable and high-risk communities.
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