Hepatitis B, C claimed 97,000 lives in Eastern Mediterranean in 2024: WHO — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Marking World Hepatitis Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) says hepatitis B and C caused an estimated 97,000 deaths across the Eastern Mediterranean region in 2024. In a post on X, WHO warned that hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, remained a silent threat to public health across the region. The organisation stressed the need to strengthen preventive measures, expand access to diagnostic testing and ensure the timely provision of treatment to combat the disease. World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on 28 July. The day was designated by WHO in 2010 to raise awareness of hepatitis and promote its prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. Hepatitis is a viral infection that causes inflammation and damage to the liver. The main types are hepatitis A, B and C. The disease can be transmitted through contaminated food and water or through contact with infected blood and other bodily fluids. It can be diagnosed through blood tests.