World
Hepatitis B and C: WHO calls for intensified global action on July 28
On World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for strengthened research, screening, treatment access, and political commitment in the fight against hepatitis B and C. According to the WHO, 287 million people worldwide currently live with chronic hepatitis B or C. Hepatitis B alone is responsible for 1.1 million deaths annually—more than double the death toll from malaria. Despite curative treatments being available since 2015, only approximately 20% of hepatitis C patients have received treatment. A major breakthrough occurred in spring 2026, when Chinese researchers achieved the first functional cure of hepatitis B.