Latest news with #WorldHepatitisDay
Daily Tribune
2 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Liver cancer to double worldwide, most of it preventable: study
AFP | Paris The number of people with liver cancer will nearly double worldwide by 2050 unless more is done to address preventable causes such as obesity, alcohol consumption and hepatitis, a study warned Tuesday. New cases of liver cancer -- the sixth most common form of the disease -- will rise to 1.52 million a year from 870,000 if current trends continue, according to data from the Global Cancer Observatory published in the Lancet medical journal. It is also the third deadliest of all cancers, with the study predicting it would take 1.37 million lives by the middle of the century. However three out of five cases of liver cancer could be prevented, the international team of experts said. The risk factors are drinking alcohol, viral hepatitis and a build-up of fat in the liver linked to obesity called MASLD, which was previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The viruses that cause hepatitis B and C are expected to remain the leading causes of liver cancer in 2050, according to the study, published on World Hepatitis Day. Vaccination at birth is the best way to prevent hepatitis B, but vaccine coverage remains low in poorer countries including in sub-Saharan Africa, the study said. Unless vaccination rates are increased, hepatitis B is expected to kill 17 million people between 2015 and 2030, it added. Alcohol consumption is estimated to cause more than 21 percent of all cases of liver cancer by 2050, up more than two percentage points from 2022.
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Health
- Zawya
Eritrea: World Hepatitis Day Observed at National Level
World Hepatitis Day was observed at the national level in Asmara yesterday under the theme 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down.' Dr. Araya Berhane, Director of Communicable Diseases Control at the Ministry of Health, stated that although hepatitis has various forms, this year's observance focused on infection-related hepatitis, which remains a leading cause of illness and death in the country. Citing a study by the Ministry of Health, Dr. Araya noted that in Eritrea, 30 out of every 1,000 people are carriers of Hepatitis B virus, while 5 out of every 1,000 are carriers of Hepatitis C. He also highlighted that the rate of infection varies across regions, and chronic illnesses are often associated with these two viruses. He further stated that the primary means of controlling Hepatitis B is through vaccination, which has been in place in Eritrea for over 23 years. Since newborns must be vaccinated within 24 hours of birth, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with its partners, plans to expand the vaccination program starting in November 2025. Dr. Mary Stephen, WHO Representative in Eritrea, and Dr. Abdullahi Mohammed Yousuf, UNICEF Representative, commended Eritrea's efforts in controlling and eradicating hepatitis. They emphasized that the observance of the day serves as a reminder to give due attention to hepatitis and to combat it through integrated and timely efforts. Participants held extensive discussions on the current situation of hepatitis and strategies for its control. The event featured a general knowledge competition among secondary schools in the Central Region, with awards presented to the winners. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
West Australian
16 hours ago
- Health
- West Australian
New HepatitisWA service to launch in Geraldton, aims to bridge critical healthcare gap
A telehealth service and website launched on World Hepatitis Day will begin in Geraldton, aiming to bridge a critical healthcare gap for thousands of West Australians in remote and culturally diverse areas living with hepatitis B. HepatitisWA announced the rollout of the Hep B WA platform on Monday, designed to deliver life-saving information, testing and treatment access to remote areas and culturally and linguistically diverse communities who are disproportionately affected by the virus. The platform will offer telehealth consultations and support from trained health workers, with culturally safe care pathways built into the model. CEO of HepatitisWA Rebecca Smith said the initiative came as WA continued to fall short of national treatment targets, with only two per cent of regional residents with chronic hepatitis B having access to proper care in the last year. Across WA, more than 29,000 people currently live with hepatitis B or C — an increase of more than 1700 cases since 2024. If left untreated, the viruses can lead to liver failure or liver cancer, which is now the fastest-growing cause of cancer deaths in Australia. 'In country WA, just four per cent of people living with hepatitis B receive any care, and in more remote parts of the State, it's less than two per cent,' Ms Smith said. 'There is a vaccine and effective treatment for hepatitis B, but people are still dying simply because they can't access the care they need. We're launching this digital lifeline to change that. 'By prioritising regions with the greatest need, we can ensure the service has immediate impact while building a scaleable model for future expansion.' The new service's stage-one rollout is focused on the Mid West, with Geraldton identified as a priority due to limited local hepatitis services and the city's high proportion of culturally and linguistically diverse and Aboriginal residents. Ms Smith said many people affected by hepatitis B were from communities with a high prevalence of the disease, often juggling complex healthcare needs in a system that did not always meet them where they were. 'No matter where you live in WA or who you are, if hepatitis affects your life, this service is here for you,' she said. 'Postcode should never be a barrier to care. People shouldn't have to travel hundreds of kilometres or navigate complicated systems just to know their status and access treatment.'
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Liver cancer to double worldwide, most of cases preventable: Study - Health - Life & Style
The number of people with liver cancer will nearly double worldwide by 2050 unless more is done to address preventable causes such as obesity, alcohol consumption and hepatitis, a study warned on July 29. New cases of liver cancer – the sixth most common form of the disease – will rise to 1.52 million a year from 870,000 if current trends continue, according to data from the Global Cancer Observatory published in the Lancet medical journal. It is also the third deadliest of all cancers, with the study predicting that it will take 1.37 million lives by the middle of the century. However, three out of five cases of liver cancer could be prevented, the international team of experts said. The risk factors are drinking alcohol, viral hepatitis and a build-up of fat in the liver linked to obesity called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, which was previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The viruses that cause hepatitis B and C are expected to remain the leading causes of liver cancer in 2050, according to the study, published on World Hepatitis Day. Vaccination at birth is the best way to prevent hepatitis B, but vaccine coverage remains low in poorer countries including in sub-Saharan Africa, the study said. Unless vaccination rates are increased, hepatitis B is expected to kill 17 million people between 2015 and 2030, it added. Alcohol consumption is estimated to cause more than 21 per cent of all cases of liver cancer by 2050, up more than two percentage points from 2022. Cancer due to obesity-linked fat in livers will rise to 11 per cent, also up more than two percentage points, the researchers calculated. The large-scale study, which reviewed the available evidence on the subject, underscored 'the urgent need for global action' on liver cancer, its authors said. The experts called for more public awareness about the preventable danger of liver cancer, particularly by warning people in the United States, Europe and Asia with obesity or diabetes about fatty liver disease. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
NDTV
a day ago
- Health
- NDTV
Liver Cancer May Kill 1.3 Million By 2050. Here's How to Stop It
A recent study published in The Lancet warns that liver cancer cases worldwide could nearly double by 2050 if current trends continue. New cases may rise from 870,000 to 1.52 million annually, with projected deaths reaching 1.37 million. Liver cancer is now the third deadliest cancer globally. The study highlights preventable causes such as alcohol use, viral hepatitis (B & C), and MASLD, a liver condition linked to obesity. Experts say that 60% of liver cancer cases could be avoided through early prevention and better public health strategies. The report was released on World Hepatitis Day and urges global action to reduce risk factors and improve awareness. Vaccination at birth is the best way to prevent hepatitis B, but vaccine coverage remains low in poorer countries including in sub-Saharan Africa, the study said. Unless vaccination rates are increased, hepatitis B is expected to kill 17 million people between 2015 and 2030, it added. Alcohol consumption is estimated to cause more than 21 percent of all cases of liver cancer by 2050, up more than two percentage points from 2022. Cancer due to obesity-linked fat in livers will rise to 11 percent, also up more than two percentage points, the researchers calculated. The large-scale study, which reviewed the available evidence on the subject, underscored "the urgent need for global action" on liver cancer, the authors said. The experts called for more public awareness about the preventable danger of liver cancer, particularly by warning people with obesity or diabetes about fatty-liver disease in the United States, Europe and Asia.
