World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, which causes inflammation of the liver that leads to severe disease and liver cancer.

The world is currently facing a new outbreak of unexplained acute hepatitis infections affecting children. WHO, together with scientists and policy-makers in affected countries, are working to understand the cause of this infection that does not appear to belong to any of the known five types of viral hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, D and E.

Global Targets 

To eliminate hepatitis and achieve WHO’s ambitious targets by 2030:

• 90% of people living with hepatitis B and/or C should be diagnosed; and
• 80% of those eligible for treatment should be cured of hepatitis C or virally suppressed if they are living with hepatitis B.