Over 91 million Africans infected with Hepatitis B or C

Today is World Hapatitis Day with the theme bringing hapatitis care close to you

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation says more than 91 million Africans live with hepatitis B or C, which are the deadliest strains of the virus.

The viral hepatitis scorecard 2021 looks at data from the African region but focuses on hepatitis B and C, both of which cause liver cirrhosis and cancer.

It found that in 19 countries, more than eight percent of the population is infected with hepatitis b, while in 18 countries, more than one percent of the population lives with hepatitis C.

In 2020, the African region accounted for 26 percent of the global burden for hepatitis B and C and 125,000 associated deaths.

The scorecard showed that around 70 percent of hepatitis b infections worldwide occur in Africa.