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Hepatitis B: global importance and need for control
1International Task Force on Hepatitis B Immunization, Seattle, WA.
Insights
Hepatitis B (HBV) is a global health threat, causing liver cancer and mortality. Mass infant vaccination via the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is key to eliminating HBV, with rates potentially dropping 90% in 10 years.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects over 300 million people globally.
- HBV is a primary cause of liver cancer, contributing to significant mortality worldwide.
- In high-prevalence areas (10% carrier rate), HBV accounts for 3% of total mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the global significance of Hepatitis B.
- To emphasize the role of mass vaccination in HBV elimination strategies.
- To assess the potential impact of increased vaccine availability and reduced costs.
Main Methods:
- Review of global HBV prevalence and mortality data.
- Analysis of vaccination strategies, specifically the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
- Evaluation of trends in hepatitis B vaccine production and pricing.
Main Results:
- Hepatitis B is a leading cause of primary liver cancer and mortality.
- Mass infant vaccination in areas with >2.5% HBV carrier rates is the only elimination strategy.
- Increased vaccine production and lower costs offer optimism for a 90% reduction in HBV rates within a decade.
Conclusions:
- Hepatitis B vaccination is crucial for global disease control.
- The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) provides a framework for HBV elimination.
- Projected reductions in HBV infection rates are substantial due to improved vaccine accessibility.
Abstract:
Hepatitis B is a disease of global importance, with greater than 300 million carriers of the virus world-wide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the cause of up to 80% of cases of primary liver cancer, the single most important cause of mortality globally. In countries where HBV carrier rates reach 10%, HBV infection may account for 3% of total mortality, a level which exceeds polio-related mortality before the introduction of polio vaccine. The only means by which hepatitis B can be eventually eliminated is mass vaccination of infants with hepatitis B vaccine as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in areas of the world where the HBV carrier rate exceeds 2.5%. With recent dramatic increases in hepatitis B vaccine production and decreases in per-dose price, there are grounds for optimism that global HBV infection rates may be reduced by as much as 90% over the next 10 years.