On World Hepatitis Day, 28 July 2015, WHO and partners will urge policy-makers, health workers and the public to act now to prevent infection and death from hepatitis.
Viral hepatitis – a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E – affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic liver disease and killing close to 1.5 million people every year, mostly from hepatitis B and C. These infections can be prevented, but most people don’t know how.
In May 2014, World Health Assembly delegates from 194 governments adopted a resolution to promote global action to prevent, diagnose, and treat viral hepatitis. On World Hepatitis Day, events will take place around the world focussing on preventing hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
The date of 28 July was chosen for World Hepatitis Day in honour of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, discoverer of the hepatitis B virus and developer of the first hepatitis B vaccine.
See more:
- World Hepatitis Day: Prevent hepatitis
- Dia Mundial de Luta Contra as Hepatites Virais (in Portuguese)
- Vacina | Departamento de DST, Aids e Hepatites Virais (in Portuguese)
Related Links:
- Campanha do Ministério da Saúde incentiva testagem para diagnóstico precoce de hepatites no Brasil
- Julho Amarelo: Fiocruz realça práticas exitosas do SUS de prevenção e combate às hepatites virais
- Teste para diagnóstico de hepatites B e C, HIV e sífilis
- Prevenção combinada
- Ministério da Saúde amplia vacinação contra hepatite A para usuários de PrEP
