OSLO, July 28 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that its European Region has made significant progress in preventing viral hepatitis and controlling hepatitis C, but remains off track to meet all elimination targets by 2030 as millions of people still lack diagnosis and treatment.
In a release issued on World Hepatitis Day, which falls on Tuesday, the Copenhagen-based WHO Regional Office for Europe highlighted advances in vaccination and reductions in infections and deaths.
According to data from the Global Hepatitis Report 2026, expanded vaccination programs have reduced the prevalence of hepatitis B among children under five in the region to an estimated 0.06 percent, below the global elimination threshold of 0.1 percent.
Since 2015, new hepatitis B infections have fallen by 54 percent, while new hepatitis C infections have declined by 28 percent. Over the past decade, the number of people living with hepatitis C has dropped by 29 percent, and deaths associated with the virus have fallen by 33 percent.
Despite the progress, an estimated 9.7 million people in the region are living with hepatitis B and 5.6 million with hepatitis C. Only 23 percent of people with hepatitis B have been diagnosed, and just 4.2 percent of those diagnosed are receiving treatment, the WHO said.
The WHO called on countries across the European Region to remove barriers to testing and treatment, maintain prevention programs and sustain investment in hepatitis elimination.
