- World Health Organization 2022 report shows 58 million people chronically infected with the virus
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries to expand testing and treatment for viral hepatitis. He warned in a statement that if current infection trends continue, the disease could kill more people than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined by 2040.
Hepatitis can lead to liver damage, cancer and kills more than one million people every year. Of the 5 types of hepatitis, hepatitis B and C cause the most disease and death.
While hepatitis C is curable; globally only 21% of infected people are diagnosed and only 13% receive treatment, compared to 10% of people with chronic hepatitis B.
Under the slogan “One Life, One Liver”, the World Health Organization’s campaign aims to emphasize the importance of protecting the liver from this disease for a long and healthy life. They maintain that good liver health benefits other vital organs, such as the heart, brain and kidneys.
“While we have better tools than ever before to prevent, diagnose and treat hepatitis, millions of people around the world are still living with undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis. The organization remains committed to supporting countries to scale up the use of these tools to save lives Lives and end hepatitis,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
What is hepatitis?
According to the World Health Organization, hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Viral hepatitis is a group of viruses that cause acute or chronic infection. The most common are the hepatitis A, B, and C viruses. Vaccination and early detection through blood tests allow for timely treatment and control of them.
Recommendations to reduce cases
WHO shares new recommendations to track countries’ progress towards eliminating hepatitis by 2030. To reduce new infections and deaths from hepatitis B and C, countries should:
– Guaranteed treatment for all pregnant women with hepatitis B
– Vaccines for pregnant women and babies of people with hepatitis B infection
– Diagnose 90% of patients with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C
– Provides treatment for 80% of patients diagnosed with hepatitis – Ensures safe blood transfusion
The hepatitis B incidence target is the only Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) health target on track to be achieved by 2030.
treatment guarantee
The WHO report also showed that of the 103 countries reporting an increase in cases, 80 percent had policies in place to test and treat hepatitis B in HIV clinics, and 65 percent had the same policy for hepatitis C .
The group is urging increased hepatitis testing and treatment in HIV programs to protect people from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
He also advocated for lower drug prices to speed up the expansion of treatments. Currently, 12 weeks of treatment for hepatitis C costs US$ 60 in low-income countries. Hepatitis B treatment costs less than $30 a year.
For those wishing to maintain a healthy liver, WHO recommends hepatitis screening, treatment after diagnosis, and hepatitis B vaccination.
Other preventive measures include reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing diabetes and high blood pressure.
How to prevent hepatitis?
wash your hands frequently
avoid contact with sick people
Get Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccines
eat safe food
Do not share needles
use a condom during sex
Venezuelan hepatitis
Dr. Rosalia Perazzo, president of the Venezuelan Society of Gastroenterology, assured that there has been an outbreak of hepatitis C in four Venezuelan states.
The exact number of people affected is unknown, according to the expert, who said the entities that had reported the outbreak were: Caracas, Zulia, Trujillo and Portugal.
“At the moment we don’t have exact numbers because there is no entity that is counting them. For example, I know that there are 37 cases in Acarigua (Portuguese state) and 26 in Caracas.” said in an interview with The Daily Mail. Faith and Joy Radio.
Perazzo warned that the increase in hepatitis C cases should be considered a “public health problem.” Furthermore, he assured that there are no readily available treatments or tests to diagnose the disease in Venezuela.
Experts warn that hepatitis C can develop into cirrhosis or liver cancer if left undiagnosed and treated.
“Currently we are working towards the World Health Organization (WHO) target of zero hepatitis by 2030. But when this problem arises, we move away from that target,” he said.
As of June 2022, 58 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus, and about 1.5 million people are newly infected every year. There are also 3.2 million adolescents and children chronically infected with HCV.
Hepatitis C Symptoms
– prone to bleeding
– prone to bruising
-fatigue
– loss of appetite
– Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
– dark urine
– itchy skin
– Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites)
– leg swelling
-lose weight
-Confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
Spider-like blood vessels (spider veins) in the skin
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 290,000 people worldwide died from complications of hepatitis C in 2019. Most patients have cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).