July 28 – World Hepatitis Day
Every year on 28 July, the World Health Organization launches a campaign to mark World Hepatitis Day, raising awareness of the problem of viral hepatitis and understanding its importance. The 2025 campaign theme is “Hepatitis: Breaking Down Barriers” and calls for action to address the social and systemic factors (including stigma) that hinder the elimination of hepatitis and the effective prevention of liver cancer.
The liver performs more than 500 vital functions in our body, and this explains the importance of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of viral hepatitis.
“Silent pandemic” – this is what hepatologists call the spread of viral hepatitis in the world.
Hepatitis is a viral infectious disease that affects the liver and occurs in an acute or chronic form. It is usually caused by a viral infection or exposure to non-infectious agents (such as drugs, toxins, alcohol).
There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, called types A, B, C, D and E. All of them cause a pathological process in the liver, but differ in a number of important features, including the routes of transmission of the virus, the severity of the disease, its geographic distribution and methods of prevention.
Viral hepatitis A, E are acute, but usually end in complete recovery and do not lead to severe consequences.
Hepatitis types B, C and D cause a chronic disease and in combination are the most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver, liver dysfunction, liver cancer and death from viral hepatitis.
Chronic viral hepatitis affects approximately 304 million people worldwide. More than 6,000 people become infected with viral hepatitis every day.
In the Brest region, 18 cases of viral hepatitis A were registered in January-June 2025, which amounted to 1.44 per 100,000 of the population. Over the same period in 2024, 69 cases were registered (5.52 per 100,000).
Over the first 6 months of 2025, 306 cases of parenteral viral hepatitis were registered in the region, which amounted to 23.5 per 100,000 of the population. Over the same period in 2024, 215 cases were registered, an increase in incidence of 42.4%.
For the first 6 months of 2025, the leading established route of infection was sexual – 76.3%, non-medical procedures (tattoos, piercing, manicure, pedicure performed outside specialized salons) – 17.6%, contact-household – 3.2%, injection drug use – 2.9%. The mechanism of transmission of parenteral viral hepatitis in 28 people (9.2% of all registered cases) has not been established.
Vaccination against hepatitis B is the most effective means of prevention. All newborn babies receive the hepatitis B vaccine within the first 12 hours of life.
A huge number of hepatitis infections and deaths are preventable.
The routes of infection for all hepatitis are the same and they are transmitted:
- during unprotected sexual intercourse;
- when sharing personal hygiene items, shaving accessories;
- when sharing injection equipment for injecting drugs;
- from mother to child during childbirth;
- when using contaminated instruments during medical procedures, manicures, piercings, tattooing.
In the context of prevention of parenteral hepatitis B, C and D, the following measures are especially important:
- Avoid drug use, casual sex and use condoms during sexual intercourse;
- Do not use other people’s personal hygiene items (razors, manicure accessories);
- When visiting tattoo parlors, manicure and pedicure salons, make sure that sterilization rules are followed;
- Get tested regularly for hepatitis B and C.
To prevent viral hepatitis A and E it is necessary:
- wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before eating;
- wash your hands before eating, after using the toilet, after walking;
- drink only boiled or bottled water;
- observe the rules of personal and public hygiene.
As part of the World Hepatitis Day, direct telephone lines on hepatitis treatment and prevention were organized in Brest:
Healthcare institution “Brest Regional Clinical Hospital”, infectious disease doctor
8 (0162) 27-22-48, call from 11:00 to 15:00
Brest Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health
- for questions on the prevention of hepatitis A, E (epidemiologist, head of the anti-epidemic department),
8 (0162) 53-09-38, call from 9:00 to 12:00; - for questions on the prevention of hepatitis B, C, D (epidemiologist of the HIV and PVH prevention department),
8 (0162) 58-94-54, call from 8:00 to 16:00.
Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing viral hepatitis A and B!
