the provided text discusses the recent classification of hepatitis D as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC),similar to hepatitis B and C. This classification highlights the increased risk of liver cancer associated with hepatitis D infection, which only occurs in individuals already infected with hepatitis B.
The article also touches upon:
WHO’s role: The World Health Association (WHO) is actively involved in providing guidelines for hepatitis B and D testing and diagnosis and is monitoring treatment outcomes.
Treatment advancements: While hepatitis C can be cured with oral medication, hepatitis B requires lifelong therapy.Treatment options for hepatitis D are still evolving.
Progress in hepatitis response: There has been an increase in countries with national hepatitis action plans, policies for testing pregnant women for hepatitis B, and the introduction of hepatitis B birth dose vaccination.
Remaining challenges: Despite progress, critical gaps persist in testing and treatment coverage for both hepatitis B and C, falling short of WHO targets. The integration of hepatitis services into different healthcare programs also remains uneven.
Future outlook: Scaling up prevention, testing, and treatment is crucial to achieve WHO’s 2030 targets, which could save millions of lives and prevent new infections. This requires domestic investment, integrated services, better data, affordable medicines, and efforts to end stigma.
Partnerships for World Hepatitis Day: The WHO is collaborating with Rotary International and the World Hepatitis Alliance for advocacy efforts, with a campaign focused on addressing the rising liver cancer toll and dismantling barriers to hepatitis elimination.
In essence, the article emphasizes the growing recognition of hepatitis D’s carcinogenic nature and the urgent need for intensified global efforts to combat viral hepatitis through improved prevention, testing, treatment, and integrated healthcare services.
