World Hepatitis Day, 28 July 2025 - Theme, History & Importance
Every year, World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on July 28 to create awareness and educate people about the effect of viral hepatitis, which can cause liver inflammation leading to severe liver-related ailments and liver cancer.
These days, a team of WHO, expert scientists and policymakers of a few countries are dealing with the upsurge of anonymous acute hepatitis and putting their efforts into understanding the cause of this infection, which is affecting mainly children. There are indications that this infection is not due to the existing five known hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D and E).
Most acute hepatitis infections cause mild illness and sometimes go undetected. But sometimes, it raises fulminant liver disease and can be fatal, further it may require liver transplant. It is estimated that 78,000 people worldwide died from acute hepatitis A-E infection complications in 2019 alone.
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☑️ History of World Hepatitis Day (WHD)
Dr Baruch Samuel Blumberg also known as Barry Blumberg, a physician and geneticist, discovered the hepatitis B virus in 1967 and developed the first hepatitis B vaccine, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize. 28th July, his birthday, was chosen as World Hepatitis Day to commemorate his achievement and contributions.
World Hepatitis Day is among the eight official World Health Days designated by the World Health Organisation. This annual event focuses on the devastating impact of viral hepatitis infection, with nearly 33 crores people worldwide affected with chronic hepatitis B or C.
☑️ What is Viral Hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation and damage to the liver. Viral infections are the most common cause of hepatitis.
Hepatitis has five main viruses: A, B, C, D and E. The severity of the disease and the treatment to be followed depends on the type of hepatitis and the individual. It can cause liver cirrhosis or cancer. Hepatitis exhibits as yellow discolouration of the skin (jaundice or jaundice), dark urine, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
☑️ Who is at risk for Hepatitis?
People who indulge in the following activities are at higher risk for hepatitis:
Sharing needles to take medicine.
Perform unprotected oral and anal sex.
Having multiple sex partners.
Drink a significant amount of alcohol.
Having poor nutrition.
Work in a hospital or nursing home.
Receiving long-term kidney dialysis.
Travel to areas with poor sanitation.
☑️ Prevention of Hepatitis Virus
There are many ways to reduce your chances of getting hepatitis:
✔️ Get vaccines for hepatitis (A and B).
✔️ Use a condom during sex.
✔️ Do not share needles to take medication.
✔️ Maintaining personal hygiene, such as washing hands thoroughly with soap and water.
✔️ Do not use the personal belongings of an infected person.
✔️ Be aware while getting tattoos or body piercings.
✔️ Make sure you are vaccinated when travelling to areas of the world with poor sanitation.
✔️ Drink bottled water during your travel
☑️ World Hepatitis Day 2025 Theme
This year, 2025, the World Hepatitis Day theme is "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down”. This theme highlights the urgent necessity to remove the systemic, societal, and financial obstacles, such as stigma and false information that interfere with the worldwide effort to combat liver cancer and hepatitis. It is recommended that hepatitis services, including vaccination, testing, and treatment, be simplified, scaled up, and integrated into national health systems to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
☑️ Year-by-Year Themes for World Hepatitis Day (WHD):
World Hepatitis Day 2024 theme: It's time for action
World Hepatitis Day 2023 theme: One Life, One Liver.
World Hepatitis Day 2022 theme: Bringing Hepatitis Care Closer to You.
World Hepatitis Day 2021 theme: Hepatitis Can't Wait.
World Hepatitis Day 2020 theme: Hepatitis-free Future.
World Hepatitis Day 2019 theme: Invest in Eliminating Hepatitis.
World Hepatitis Day 2018 theme: Test. Treat. Hepatitis.
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