China urged to step up protection against hepatitis

World experts have urged the Chinese government to step up protection against viral hepatitis, described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a largely neglected silent killer that claims 1.4 million lives across the world every year.

More than 70 per cent of deaths related to viral hepatitis - a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E - took place in Asia Pacific and were mostly concentrated in China.

The appeal by the WHO and the Coalition to Eradicate Viral Hepatitis in Asia Pacific, comes ahead of 7th World Hepatitis Day today, which was chosen in honour of the birthday of Professor Baruch Samuel Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus.

"Awareness is still a major problem that hinders the protection against viral hepatitis," coalition founding member and University of Hong Kong professor Lai Ching-lung said.

Hepatitis, which progresses to cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated, can be caused by five viral hepatotropic viruses.

More than 78 per cent of patients who have liver cancer have been infected by hepatitis B or C virus (also called HBV or HCV), which can lead to acute and chronic infections.