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Progress in the control of viral hepatitis: memorandum from a WHO meeting
Insights
Hepatitis B (HB) is a global health issue, but safe and effective vaccines offer control through infant immunization. Mass vaccination is key to reducing severe liver disease and mortality.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Viral hepatitis poses a significant global health challenge.
- Hepatitis B (HB) is the most critical form, affecting nearly 300 million individuals worldwide.
- HB infection can lead to severe outcomes like cirrhosis and liver cancer in over 40% of survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the global impact of viral hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B.
- To emphasize the critical role of vaccination in controlling Hepatitis B.
- To advocate for mass infant immunization as the primary strategy for Hepatitis B prevention.
Main Methods:
- Review of global epidemiological data on viral hepatitis.
- Assessment of the safety and efficacy of existing Hepatitis B vaccines.
- Analysis of public health strategies for infectious disease control.
Main Results:
- Hepatitis B is a leading cause of chronic liver disease and mortality.
- Hepatitis B vaccines demonstrate high safety and efficacy.
- Mass infant immunization is identified as the most effective control measure.
Conclusions:
- Mass immunization of infants is the most effective strategy to control Hepatitis B globally.
- Integrating Hepatitis B vaccination into routine infant immunization programs is crucial.
- Ongoing research is advancing vaccines for Hepatitis A and non-A, non-B hepatitis.
Abstract:
Viral hepatitis is a major public health problem in all parts of the world, with hepatitis B (HB) as the most important of all the viral hepatitides. It is estimated that worldwide there are nearly 300 million carriers of HB markers of active infection. More than 40% of persistently infected persons who survive into adult life will die of the consequences of HB, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The vaccines available against HB have an impressive record of safety and efficacy, and the best means of controlling the infection on a global scale, including the reduction of mortality due to its sequelae, will be by mass immunization of infants. In areas where most infections are acquired early in life the vaccine should be administered shortly after birth, and HB immunization should be integrated into the Expanded Programme on Immunization.Progress has been made also in developing hepatitis A vaccines and in isolating the agents that induce hepatitis non-A non-B.