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VIRAL hepatitis appears to be overtaking tuberculosis as the world's most deadly infectious disease.
Hepatitis B and C now claim as many lives as TB - despite the existence of vaccines and treatments - new figures show.
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Both viruses led to 1.3million deaths in 2022, new data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed.
Experts estimate that if the current trajectory continues, the disease will kill more people annually than malaria, TB and Aids combined by 2040.
“Despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated,” WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Dr Graham Cooke, of Imperial College London, said the virus – which can be spread through sex – is being sidelined.
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“Viral hepatitis isn’t getting the attention it needs globally, partly because when the Global Fund was set up for HIV, TB and malaria, the burden of viral hepatitis wasn’t recognised,” he told the Telegraph.
Two-thirds of the global disease burden of viral hepatitis falls on just 10 countries: China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, the Philippines and Russia.
In the UK, estimates suggest around 270,000 people live with hepatitis B and C, with at least half undiagnosed.
Viral hepatitis refers to five different forms of the virus - known as A, B, C, D, E.
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Two strains of the virus, hepatitis B and C, lead to long-term disease, with hepatitis B causing the vast majority of deaths.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an umbrella term describing inflammation of the liver.
It can be the result of heavy drinking or a viral infection.
There are several different types of the disease which are caused by different viruses and are treated in different ways.
What are the symptoms of hepatitis?
For short-term hepatitis there are often no symptoms so it can be hard to know that you are suffering from the condition.
But - according to the - if symptoms do develop they may include:
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Tiredness
- Feeling sick
- Loss of appetite
- Itchy skin
- Dark urine or pale
- Grey coloured poo
Long-term hepatitis can also develop without any symptoms, until the liver fails completely, so it is sometimes only caught in blood tests.
Both can cause serious liver damage and predispose people to liver cancer.
Signs can include flu-like symptoms, feeling tired all the time, loss of appetite, stomach ache, and sickness, according to the NHS.
People don't always feel the symptoms of the initial infection, they can be unaware of the long-term damage until it is too late.
Gary Webster, 56, who contracted HIV and Hepatitis C from the infected blood shares pain of out-surviving school friends
Both hepatitis B and C are contracted through blood-to-blood contact.
This includes childbirth, sex, the sharing of needles, and inadequate sterilisation of medical equipment.
This month, a new NHS England testing initiative was announced, aimed at identifying those unknowingly living with hepatitis C.
Liver scanning and portable testing units are to be rolled out in communities where people may be at a higher risk.
The initiative also includes testing events at GP surgeries and community outreach at drug and alcohol support services.
Scientists from the WHO examined data from 187 countries and assessed the world’s progress toward eliminating the disease.
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They found that the number of deaths linked to viral hepatitis rose by more than 18 per cent from 2021 to 2022 - up from 1.1million deaths.
Though new cases declined during that time, the report says the world is “off-track” toward the WHO’s goal of reducing new hepatitis infections by 90 per cent and deaths by 65 per cent by 2030.
The different types of Hepatitis explained...
Hepatitis A
- Caused by Hepatitis A virus
- Caught by consuming food or drink contamined with the poo of an infected person
- Usually passes within a few months
- There's no specific treatment
Hepatitis B
- Caused by Hepatitis B virus
- Spread through the blood of an infected person
- Commonly transferred through infected needles, from pregnant women to their babies or through unprotected sex
- Most adults infected are able to fight off the virus and recover in a few months
- Children can develop chronic hepatitis which can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer
- It can be treated with antiviral medication
Hepatitis C
- Caused by Hepatitis C virus
- Spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person
- Commonly spread through sharing needles
- One in four fight off the infection themselves
- For the others it can stay in their system for many years
- These chronic hepatitis C cases can cause cirrhosis and liver failure
Hepatitis D
- Caused by Hepatitis D virus
- Only affects people already affected by Hepatitis B
- Spread through blood-to-blood or sexual contact with an infected person
Hepatitis E
- Caused by Hepatitis E virus
- Mainly spread through consumption of uncooked meat
- Generally mild and short term
Alcoholic hepatitis
- Caused by excessive drinking
- Can cause sudden jaundice and liver failure
- Stopping drinking will usually allow your body to recover
- Risk can be reduced by reducing alcohol consumption
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