This edition focuses on hepatitis, a disease of the liver caused by 5 different viruses and yet not known by a lot people. In fact, most of the 400 million people with chronic hepatitis B and C, the most severe forms of viral hepatitis, do not know that they are infected.
This enables the infection to go unnoticed, and undiagnosed until the virus has caused serious liver damage.
According to the World Health Organization, a person dies every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness which is why this year’s theme for World Hepatitis Day commemorated annually on July 28 is: It’s time for action.
Stressing the need for accelerated action on better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment to save lives and improve health outcomes.