WHO lists Nigeria among countries with highest hepatitis deaths in 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Nigeria among the countries accounting for a significant share of global hepatitis-related deaths in 2024, highlighting the continued burden of the disease.

In a statement released Tuesday, the global health body said viral hepatitis B and C—responsible for about 95 per cent of hepatitis-related deaths—caused an estimated 1.34 million deaths worldwide in 2024. It added that over 4,900 new infections occur daily, translating to about 1.8 million annually.

According to the report, ten countries—including Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Vietnam—accounted for 69 per cent of global hepatitis B-related deaths.

For hepatitis C, deaths were more widely distributed, but Nigeria still featured among the ten countries responsible for 58 per cent of global fatalities, alongside China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, the United States and Vietnam.

The WHO’s 2026 Global Hepatitis Report noted some progress since 2015, including a 32 per cent reduction in new hepatitis B infections and a 12 per cent decline in hepatitis C deaths globally. It also reported that hepatitis B prevalence among children under five has dropped to 0.6 per cent, with 85 countries meeting or exceeding the 2030 target.

Speaking on the findings, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said eliminating hepatitis remains achievable but warned that progress is uneven.

“Countries are demonstrating that elimination is possible with sustained commitment and financing. However, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems and unequal access to care,” he said.

The report estimated that about 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections in 2024.

It further revealed that 0.9 million people were newly infected with hepatitis B during the year, with Africa accounting for 68 per cent of cases. However, only 17 per cent of newborns in the region received the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine.

Similarly, about 0.9 million new hepatitis C infections were recorded, with people who inject drugs accounting for 44 per cent of cases.

Despite the availability of effective treatments, the WHO said fewer than 5 per cent of those living with chronic hepatitis B were receiving care, while about 20 per cent of hepatitis C patients have been treated since 2015, even though cure rates exceed 95 per cent.

In total, hepatitis B caused approximately 1.1 million deaths in 2024, while hepatitis C accounted for about 240,000 deaths, largely due to complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The report noted that countries like Egypt, Georgia, Rwanda and the United Kingdom have made significant progress toward elimination, demonstrating that sustained investment, expanded vaccination, improved testing and better access to treatment are critical to meeting global targets by 2030.