World Hepatitis Day
There are 500 million people currently infected with chronic hepatitis B or C worldwide, with approximately 150 million people infected with hepatitis C. Individuals with chronic hepatitis C are at increased risk of developing serious complications such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (with US-based studies clearly showing that up to 51%–55% of HCC patients have anti-HCV antibodies), and end-stage liver disease.
There are 500 million people currently infected with chronic hepatitis B or C worldwide, with approximately 150 million people infected with hepatitis C. Individuals with chronic hepatitis C are at increased risk of developing serious complications such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (with US-based studies clearly showing that up to 51%–55% of HCC patients have anti-HCV antibodies), and end-stage liver disease.
The most common viral infections leading to liver transplantation are hepatitis B and C. In the United States, HCV-related end-stage liver disease is the most common, while hepatitis B is the most common cause of ESLD worldwide.
The symptoms of hepatitis C manifest very slowly and are not always recognized, at least in the early stages of infection. This explains why an estimated 75% of infections remain undiagnosed in the United States.
People aged 40–49 years account for 66% of Americans infected with HCV. This "baby boomer" generation is particularly susceptible to blood-borne HCV transmission as a result of an increased lifetime risk of injection drug use (IDU), and blood transfusion before 1992.
In May the CDC announced the first ever national hepatitis testing day and proposed that all baby boomers be tested once for hepatitis C.
In 2012 we have new drugs to treat HCV and increased awareness for viral hepatitis through campaigns implemented by the World Hepatitis Alliance, and the World Health Organization
Today, July 28, 2012 people around the world will raise awareness for viral hepatitis as World Hepatitis Day begins.
World Hepatitis Day 2012 Campaign Video
World Hepatitis Day is an annual event that each year provides international focus for patient groups and people living with hepatitis B and C. It is an opportunity around which interested groups can raise awareness and influence real change in disease prevention and access to testing and treatment.
Visuals for the video have been based on the metaphor of a falling piano, highlighting that around the world hepatitis is being ignored, playing with the slogan for World Hepatitis Day 2012 'It's closer than you think' and encouraging everyone to confront it!
For more information visit http://www.worldhepatitisalliance.org/en/Home.aspx
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