World Hepatitis Day 28 July
World Hepatitis Day takes places every year on the 28th July with the aim of bringing the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change. The theme of World Hepatitis Day 2024 is “It’s time for action – test, treat and vaccinate”. Ongoing efforts are required for Ireland to meet the WHO target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a major public health concern by 2030.
Hepatitis B and C
Chronic hepatitis B and C are life-threatening infectious diseases that can cause serious liver damage, liver cancer, and premature death. It is estimated that more than 350 million people are infected with the hepatitis B or the hepatitis C virus worldwide. In Ireland, cumulatively to the end of 2023, over 17,500 cases of hepatitis C and over 14,000 cases of hepatitis B had been notified to the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Hepatitis B and C notifications declined during the COVID-19 pandemic but returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and increased in 2023, with 588 cases of hepatitis B and 538 cases of hepatitis C reported.
In developed countries, like Ireland, hepatitis C is most commonly transmitted through sharing contaminated equipment when injecting drugs or through receipt of unscreened blood or blood products in the past. Sexual, occupational and mother to baby transmission can also occur but these are less common modes of transmission. More than three quarters of hepatitis C cases notified in Ireland between 2007 and 2023 were in people who inject drugs, 6% of cases were reported to be sexually acquired, 4% had received blood or blood products in the past and vertical transmission was reported for 2% of cases.
The most common modes of transmission for hepatitis B are mother to baby transmission at birth, unprotected sex and sharing needles when injecting drugs. In recent years, over 95% of people notified with hepatitis B in Ireland were chronically infected cases, most of whom were born in countries with a higher hepatitis B prevalence. The number of acute cases of hepatitis B (recent infections) notified each year in Ireland is low; on average 14 cases were reported annually over the past five years. Most were sexually acquired.
National hepatitis C treatment programme
A national hepatitis C treatment programme (NHCTP) was established by the HSE in 2015 with the aim of providing treatment to all people living with hepatitis C in Ireland. Over 7,000 patients have been successfully treated since 2015. It is estimated that fewer than 5,000 people in Ireland still need hepatitis C treatment this World Hepatitis Day.
The HSE is urging people who might be at risk of hepatitis C to order a free, confidential hepatitis C home test. Many in Ireland might have hepatitis C without knowing it. Sharing personal items, getting tattoos abroad, unprotected sex, drug use and medical or dental treatment in another country where hepatitis C is common are some ways the virus can spread. The free, confidential home test is available for anyone 18 and older. It involves taking a few drops of blood from your finger and sending it in a prepaid envelope for lab analysis. If the test is positive, the treatment is provided for free by the HSE with over 95% of people cured in as little as 8-12 weeks.
Hepatitis B vaccination
There is a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B. This was added to the primary childhood immunisation schedule in Ireland in October 2008 for children born from July 1st 2008. Hepatitis B immunisation is also recommended for risk groups, babies born to hepatitis B positive mothers and household and sexual contacts of cases.
Elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable
With the availability of effective vaccines and treatments for long-term suppression of hepatitis B, and highly effective curative treatments for hepatitis C, elimination of viral hepatitis is achievable. However, chronic hepatitis B and C infections can be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic for years, or even decades, after infection. This means that without testing, some people may not be diagnosed until they have already developed considerable liver damage and may also have unintentionally infected others. The key messages for World Hepatitis Day are test, treat and vaccinate to end morbidity and mortality due to hepatitis B and C.
Further information on hepatitis C
Epidemiological information: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/hepatitis/hepatitisc/
HPSC factsheet and information leaflet: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/hepatitis/hepatitisc/factsheetleaflets/
HSE information on hepatitis C: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/hepatitis-c/
Hepatitis C Screening: National Clinical guidelines, Ireland https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/e4bb9d-hepatitis-c-screening/
Further information on hepatitis B
Epidemiological information: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/hepatitis/hepatitisb/
Factsheets and information leaflets: https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/hepatitis/hepatitisb/factsheetsleaflets/
WHO Guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment for people with chronic hepatitis B: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240090903