World Health Organization Demands Accelerated Action as Viral Hepatitis Claims 1.34 Million Lives Globally in 2024

The WHO calls for urgent global action as new data shows hepatitis B and C caused 1.34 million deaths in 2024 despite gains in child vaccination.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 8:03 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Peoples Gazette

The Persistent Burden of Viral Hepatitis Deaths

During the World Hepatitis Summit on Tuesday, the World Health Organization released a critical report highlighting that hepatitis B and C were responsible for 1.34 million deaths globally in 2024. While the health body noted measurable progress in some areas, the sheer scale of the mortality rate underscores viral hepatitis as a major global health challenge. The organization emphasized that sustained action is required worldwide to prevent the disease from continuing its devastating impact on public health systems.

Tracking New Infections and Transmission Rates

The latest data indicates that transmission of viral hepatitis remains high, with approximately 4,900 new infections occurring daily. This translates to roughly 1.8 million new cases annually, a figure that persists despite expanded efforts in testing and prevention. The report stresses that while interventions have been scaled up globally, the rate of new infections suggests that current prevention strategies are not yet sufficient to halt the spread of the virus across different regions.

Successes in Pediatric Vaccination and Prevalence

In a significant milestone, the prevalence of hepatitis B among children under the age of five has decreased to 0.6 percent. This achievement is attributed to coordinated global efforts and improved childhood vaccination coverage. The World Health Organization confirmed that 85 countries have already met or exceeded the 2030 target of reducing pediatric prevalence to 0.1 percent. Additionally, since 2015, new hepatitis B infections have dropped by 32 percent, while hepatitis C-related deaths have seen a 12 percent decline.