The Silent Epidemic: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Millions of people around the world are living with hepatitis and don’t even know it. Hepatitis B and C — two of the most common forms — often show no symptoms until the disease is advanced. Every year, over 3 million new cases are reported, and tragically, more than 1.3 million lives are lost due to hepatitis-related illnesses. Even more alarming, every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related condition.

This Year’s Message: Get the Facts. Take Action.
The 2025 theme, “Let’s Break It Down,” calls for simplifying the conversation around hepatitis.
It’s about making the facts clear, accessible, and actionable. Hepatitis is not just a medical issue — it’s also a social one. Stigma, misinformation, and unequal access to healthcare are some of the biggest barriers to diagnosis and treatment. A recent study showed that 57% of people with hepatitis C and 46% of those with hepatitis B struggle to disclose their condition due to stigma.

Vaccination and Testing: Our Strongest Tools
Did you know that hepatitis B vaccination at birth can protect infants from lifelong infection?
Without it, 9 out of 10 babies exposed to hepatitis B may go on to develop chronic hepatitis.
But there is hope — hepatitis B is preventable with a safe vaccine, and hepatitis C is curable
with timely treatment. Testing and early intervention can prevent more than half of liver
cancer cases, which are often caused by untreated hepatitis.

Breaking Down Inequities
Hepatitis disproportionately affects underserved communities due to racial disparities, gender-based discrimination, and unequal access to healthcare. These social barriers are slowing global efforts to eliminate the disease. To effectively address hepatitis, we must also address the systems that leave people behind.

Join the Fight: Awareness Saves Lives
There are over 300 million people living with hepatitis globally — and most of them don’t
know it. By raising awareness, encouraging vaccination, and expanding access to testing and treatment, we can change that. This World Hepatitis Day, let’s break down the myths, the stigma, and the silence. Get informed. Get tested. Get vaccinated. Together, we can move closer to a world free from hepatitis.