Over a million lives are lost to hepatitis each year.
World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 every year and marks the birthday of Nobel-prize-winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
The symptoms of hepatitis, inflammation of the liver, typically include the following:
- muscle and joint pain
- a high temperature
- feeling and being sick
- feeling unusually tired all the time
- a general sense of feeling unwell
- loss of appetite
- tummy pain
- dark urine
- pale, grey-coloured poo
- itchy skin
- yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
What is World Hepatitis Day?
It is a day in which the World Hepatitis Day organisers call on people around the world to take action because "Hepatitis Can’t Wait". It brings the world together under a single theme to raise awareness of the global burden of viral hepatitis and to influence real change.
What is the theme for World Hepatitis Day 2023?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. It is caused by a viral infection, alcohol consumption and other health conditions. Each year, the day has a theme. This year, the theme is "One life, one liver".
There are different types of hepatitis, 5 in total - A, B, C, D and E. Around 354 million people live with chronic hepatitis B and C worldwide, according to WHO. There are different causes for each type. Hepatitis A and E are caused by ingesting contaminated food and water, while Hepatitis B, C and D can spread through transmission of infected body fluids.
How to get a hepatitis screening in London
A hepatitis screening service by the NHS allows tens of thousands of high-risk people to be screened every year, using a mobile unit based out of UCLH (University College London Hospitals).
Professor Alistair Story, founder and clinical lead of the UCLH Find & Treat Service for England said:
“We have the tools and the talent to eliminate Hepatitis C, but the hard miles are ahead. Thousands of people are still unaware of their infection and are struggling to access testing and treatment.
"UCLH Find and Treat outreach team works with the Hep C Trust to put people with lived experience of Hepatitis C at the front of the service providing Peer-led testing and treatment to those most at risk.
“The Peers reach patients who are off the map of mainstream services and build trust, awareness, and understanding. They provide integrated community testing, treatment, and support to address multiple other treatable infections including TB, Hep B, and HIV.
"All these infections are barometers of health inequity in our society. Finding and treating cases is in all our interests and saves lives and valuable health resources. We can and must confine these infections to the history books.”
