Over 10 Million Living with Hepatitis in Bangladesh, 90% Unaware

Over 10 million people in Bangladesh are currently living with viral hepatitis, health experts and international agencies warned on World Hepatitis Day (July 28), emphasizing that persistent gaps in awareness, early testing, and timely vaccination threaten global commitments to eliminate the disease by 2030.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), hepatitis B and C spread "silently" and account for roughly 1.3 million deaths globally each year, primarily due to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Bangladesh ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide for hepatitis C cases and is included among the 10 nations that collectively account for 69 percent of global hepatitis B-related fatalities.

Highlighting the severity of the crisis, National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh Secretary General Prof. Mohammad Ali stated that nearly 10 million individuals in the country carry hepatitis B and C. He noted that the threat is particularly severe for newborns, as 80 to 90 percent of infants infected at birth or in early childhood develop chronic hepatitis, with 20 to 25 percent dying before reaching adulthood.

To curb perinatal transmission, public health expert Tajul Islam A Bari urged policymakers to immediately introduce the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine, which must be administered within 24 hours of delivery. He noted that while global vaccine alliance Gavi is prepared to support the initiative, Bangladesh has yet to roll out the program. At least 90 percent of newborns must receive the birth dose if the country is to meet its 2030 elimination targets.

In the South-East Asia region, an estimated 43 million people live with viral hepatitis. Regional figures from 2024 recorded approximately 266,000 new hepatitis B and C infections and 200,000 related deaths. In Bangladesh, hepatitis C prevalence stands at 0.6 percent among the general population, with higher rates observed among underserved groups, particularly Rohingya refugees.

Marking the day, WHO Representative to Bangladesh Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed stressed that late diagnoses continue to deny millions access to effective care. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reaffirmed the government's commitment to expanding specialized liver care, upgrading diagnostic infrastructure, and modernizing facilities at institutions such as the National Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Hospital to minimize the need for overseas medical treatment.