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World Health Organization. (2023) Hepatitis C factsheet. Geneva: World Health Organization.

External website: https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detai...


Key facts

  • Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.
  • The virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness to a serious, lifelong illness including liver cirrhosis and cancer.
  • The hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus and most infection occur through exposure to blood from unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, unscreened blood transfusions, injection drug use and sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood.
  • Globally, an estimated 58 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection, with about 1.5 million new infections occurring per year. There are an estimated 3.2 million adolescents and children with chronic hepatitis C infection.
  • WHO estimated that in 2019, approximately 290 000 people died from hepatitis C, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).
  • Direct-acting antiviral medicines (DAAs) can cure more than 95% of persons with hepatitis C infection, but access to diagnosis and treatment is low.
  • There is currently no effective vaccine against hepatitis C.
Item Type
FactSheet
Publication Type
Irish-related
Drug Type
Opioid
Intervention Type
Harm reduction
Date
July 2023
Publisher
World Health Organization
Corporate Creators
World Health Organization
Place of Publication
Geneva
EndNote
Accession Number
HRB (Other)

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