🌍 World Hepatitis Day – July 28
Headline: Raise Awareness. Break Barriers. End Viral Hepatitis.
Intro:
Every year on July 28, the world unites for World Hepatitis Day, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to highlight the urgent need to combat viral hepatitis. This date marks the birthday of Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg, the Nobel Prize–winning scientist who discovered the hepatitis B virus and later developed its vaccine World Health Organization+11Wikipedia+11LTDHD+11.
What is viral hepatitis?
Viral hepatitis refers to infections caused by five viruses—A, B, C, D, and E—that inflame the liver. While hepatitis A and E typically result in short-term illness, hepatitis B and C can become chronic, leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and possibly death WikipediaCDCWikipedia.
Why is World Hepatitis Day important?
- Massive global impact:
- Approx. 304 million people live with chronic hepatitis B or C (2022) The New Yorker+2Vox+2Pan American Health Organization+2Vox+2World Health Organization+2Global Hepatitis Alliance+2.
- Around 2.2 million new HBV/HCV infections and 1.3 million deaths occur annually, equal to 3 500 daily deaths U.S. Pharmacist+13Pan American Health Organization+13Vox+13.
- Silent killer: Many live unknowingly infected until advanced disease manifests. Testing, vaccination, and treatment remain underutilized Hepatitis B Foundation+6CDC+6The New Yorker+6.
- Elimination goals: WHO aims to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, yet progress is uneven. Under-resourced health systems, low birth-dose vaccine uptake, high treatment costs, and social stigma hinder success Wikipedia+2Vox+2CDC+2.
2025 Theme: “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”
This year’s campaign calls for deconstructing barriers—financial, systemic, and social—to access care. It emphasizes integrating vaccination, testing, safe practices, harm reduction, and curative treatments (especially for hepatitis C) into national healthcare systems CDC+13World Health Organization+13World Health Organization+13.
What can you do?
- Get tested and treated – early diagnosis prevents liver damage.
- Vaccinate – particularly newborns with the hepatitis B birth-dose CDCCDC+4World Health Organization+4Pan American Health Organization+4.
- Raise awareness – address stigma and misinformation in your community.
- Support elimination efforts – advocate for improved funding, affordable access, and integrated care.
Inspiring success story 🎉
Egypt’s Hepatitis C program: By negotiating generic antiviral pricing and scaling up mass screening and treatment, Egypt drastically reduced hepatitis C prevalence—aiming for eradication by 2030—now assisting other nations The New Yorker+2Wikipedia+2Pan American Health Organization+2World Health Organization+1World Health Organization+1.
Concluding thought
World Hepatitis Day on July 28 is more than a date—it’s a global call to action. With proven vaccines and treatments available, the focus must shift to scaling access, breaking down barriers, and ending this preventable tragedy by 2030.
📚 Sources / Scientific References
- WHO: World Hepatitis Day observed July 28 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis; theme 2025 “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down” Pan American Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization+1World Health Organization+1.
- WHO: 304 million living with chronic hepatitis B & C; 1.3 million deaths from HBV/HCV in 2022 CDC+3World Health Organization+3Global Hepatitis Alliance+3.
- CDC: Over 300 million globally live with viral hepatitis; 3,500 daily deaths World Hepatitis Alliance.
- WHO: Deaths rose from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022; 83% hepatitis B, 17% hepatitis C World Hepatitis Alliance+3Pan American Health Organization+3Vox+3.
- WHO/PAHO: Challenges include low vaccine uptake, underdiagnosis, insufficient treatment, stigma The Sun+2Vox+2Pan American Health Organization+2.
- Wikipedia & CDC: Definition of viral hepatitis types, chronic consequences, and link to liver cancer WikipediaCDCWikipedia.
- Wikipedia: Dr. Blumberg’s birthday and vaccine contributions Medcura+3Wikipedia+3Hepatitis B Foundation+3.
- Wikipedia: Hepatitis B vaccine introduced 1982, 98–100% effective, global infant coverage Wikipedia.
- Time: Egypt’s national campaign on HCV elimination LTDHD+7TIME+7World Health Organization+7.