Nigeria among nations with highest hepatitis deaths in 2024, WHO reports
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The World Health Organization has identified Nigeria as one of the countries contributing significantly to global hepatitis-related deaths in 2024. Viral hepatitis B and C, responsible for 95% of these deaths, caused 1.34 million fatalities in 2024, with 1.8 million new infections annually. Ten countries, including Nigeria, accounted for 69% of hepatitis B-related deaths, while another set of ten countries, also including Nigeria, made up 58% of hepatitis C-related deaths. Despite a 32% decline in new hepatitis B infections and a 12% fall in hepatitis C-related deaths globally since 2015, progress is uneven. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that while elimination is achievable with political commitment and financing, many remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems, and unequal access to care. In 2024, an estimated 287 million people lived with chronic hepatitis B or C. Africa accounted for 68% of the 0.9 million new hepatitis B infections, yet only 17% of newborns in the region received the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine. Less than 5% of chronic hepatitis B patients and about 20% of hepatitis C patients have received treatment, despite effective therapies. Liver cirrhosis and liver cancer were the leading causes of the 1.1 million hepatitis B and 240,000 hepatitis C deaths in 2024. The WHO emphasizes the need for expanded vaccination, wider testing, improved treatment access, and stronger prevention to meet 2030 targets.
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