LONDON - About 300 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B, yet the majority of cases remain undiagnosed or untreated, researchers have found.
According to a study published on Monday in the Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology journal, roughly 90% of people infected by the virus, which is incurable but manageable, are unaware they have it.
A vaccine that provides lifelong immunity is available, but only half of all babies globally receive it. Moreover, fewer than 1% of all hepatitis B-infected mothers – who are the primary source of infection, and are at high risk of passing the virus to their children – are receiving appropriate treatment.
The study’s authors warn that global efforts aimed at eradicating the hepatitis B virus (HBV) by 2030 are unlikely to be met unless countries rapidly improve access to screening and treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all newborns receive their first dose of a highly effective vaccine, which has been available since 1981, within 24 hours of birth.
“Most mother-to-child transmission occurs within days of birth, so the birth dose is vital,” said primary investigator Dr Homie Razavi, of the Centre for Disease Analysis Foundation, a public health research firm based in Colorado.
“We have all the tools necessary to eliminate HBV. Our estimates highlight an enormous opportunity for effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment to substantially reduce the numbers of new infections in all countries by 2030,” he said. “But we must accelerate efforts across the board. We hope this work will be the catalyst to support national strategies to eliminate the virus by 2030, which 194 countries have pledged to do.”
The highly contagious virus is most prevalent in east Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, according to the report. China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Philippines account for more than 57% of all infections. In Central African Republic, 12.1% of the population is estimated to be living with the virus, while in Taiwan the figure is 9.4%. The UK, in comparison, accounts for just 0.7% of infections. (FA)