World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
There are five main types of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common with 116 million people in the Western Pacific living with hepatitis B and 10 million living with hepatitis C.
However, the majority of people have yet to be diagnosed and treated. If left untreated, hepatitis B and C are major risk factors for liver cancer – the sixth leading cause of death in the Region.
This year’s global theme is “Hepatitis can’t wait” conveying the urgency of efforts needed to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. The campaign in the Western Pacific Region specifically aims to increase early testing and treatment to reduce the risk of liver cancer, and is using the tagline, “Seek Hep. Seek Help. Get Tested Today”.
Hepatitis is preventable, treatable, and in the case of hepatitis C, curable. Hepatitis B and C do not show symptoms until its advanced stages of infection, so if you are at risk, it is important to know your status.
Seek Hep. Seek Help. Get Tested Today.
Seek Hep. Hepatitis B and C are preventable. Understand your risk of infection. You are at greater risk of exposure to hepatitis if you:
- use drugs (or ever used drugs)
- share needles
- are exposed to unsanitary tattoo, piercing or medical equipment
- live in prisons or closed settings
- work in healthcare settings
- are living with HIV
- have unprotected sex with an infected person.
Get tested! Early testing means early treatment to prevent illness and to save your life. Get your blood tested today for hepatitis. If you are pregnant, get tested. Hepatitis B is commonly spread from an infected pregnant women to her infant at child birth.
Seek Help. If you tested positive for hepatitis, ask whether you need treatment – do not delay. Effective medicines are available for hepatitis B, and hepatitis C can be cured with a 3-month treatment course.
Early treatment can reduce your risk of liver cancer.
Vaccinate your children against hepatitis B.
