BY 2030, VIRAL
HEPATITIS IS TO BE
ELIMINATED FROM
THE AFRICAN
REGION
A vaccinator gives a hepatitis B vaccine to a patient
during the 2016 National Viral Hepatitis Sensitization
Campaign in Kigali, Rwanda.
(WHO/J.P. Kayigi Gakwandi)
WHAT IS THE ISSUE?
Viral hepatitis is an infection of the liver caused by five distinct hepatitis
viruses (A, B, C, D, and E) and is a highly widespread public health
problem in the African Region. All five hepatitis viruses can cause severe
disease, but the highest numbers of deaths result from liver cancer
and cirrhosis – a condition in which there is irreversible scarring of the
liver following chronic hepatitis B and C infection. Unfortunately, most
people with chronic viral hepatitis are not aware of their status and do not
receive appropriate treatment.
TRANSMISSION
Viral hepatitis B and C are blood-borne infections, with significant
transmission occurring in early life and through unsafe injections and
medical procedures, and less commonly through sexual contact. Motherto-child transmission of hepatitis B virus is a major mode of transmission
in high prevalence settings. Hepatitis D is transmitted through contact
with infected blood. It only occurs in people who are already infected
With hepatitis B virus. Viral hepatitis A and E are food- and water-borne
infections that can result in acute outbreaks in communities with unsafe
water and poor sanitation. They do not result in chronic infection or
chronic liver disease and there is no specific treatment.
100
million people
Hepatitis B affects an estimated
100 million people in the African
Region (mainly in West and
Central Africa)
19
million adults
An estimated 19 million
adults in the African Region
are chronically infected with
hepatitis C.
PREVENTION
Vaccination is the most effective strategy for prevention of hepatitis B
virus infection. Other prevention strategies for both hepatitis B virus
and hepatitis C virus include assurance of safe blood products, safe
injection practices, harm reduction services for people who inject drugs
and promotion of safe sex. Prevention of hepatitis A and E is through
improved sanitation, food safety and vaccination.
TREATMENT
90%
Over 90% of people with
hepatitis C can be completely
cured within 3–6 months.
New oral, well-tolerated medicines and treatment regimens for people
with chronic hepatitis C virus infection can achieve cure rates of over 90%.
Effective treatment is also available for people with chronic hepatitis B virus
infection, although for most people such treatment needs to be lifelong.
HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM IN THE
AFRICAN REGION?
Today, only 1 in 20 people with viral hepatitis know they have it, and just
1 in 100 with the disease is being treated. In the African Region, hepatitis
B is highly endemic and affects an estimated 100 million people, mainly
in West and Central Africa, meanwhile an estimated 19 million adults are
chronically infected with hepatitis C.
Viral hepatitis is also becoming more and more a growing cause of
mortality among people living with HIV. About 2.3 million people living with
HIV are co-infected with the hepatitis C virus, and another 2.6 million are
infected with the hepatitis B virus.
WHAT IS WHO IN THE AFRICAN
REGION DOING ABOUT IT?
The WHO Regional Office for Africa produced a region-specific framework,
namely Prevention, Care and Treatment of viral hepatitis in the African
Region: Framework for action 2016–2020. Based upon the first-ever Global
Health Sector Strategy on viral hepatitis, which was adopted last May at
the World Health Assembly, this framework guides WHO Member States in
the region on how to stop viral hepatitis transmission. Various actions and
interventions are proposed, including strengthening public awareness and
prevention as well as ensuring that everyone living with viral hepatitis has
access to safe, affordable and effective care and treatment services.
Over the next five
years, the African
Region should
have one third
less chronic viral
hepatitis B and
C infections. We
also want to bring
down the number
of viral hepatitis
B and C related
deaths by 10%.