Hepatitis B Elimination Efforts in West Bengal | 29 Jul 2025
Why in News?
On World Hepatitis Day, health officials expressed optimism that Bengal, with a 0.07% Hepatitis B prevalence among children under 5, is on track to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 0.1% target and eliminate the disease by 2030.
- The state is currently the only one to report such detailed data on Hepatitis B prevalence in children, with the national estimate pegged at 1.14%.
Key Points
About Hepatitis
- About: Viral hepatitis is an infection that causes liver inflammation, damage, and may lead to liver cancer.
- It is typically caused by hepatotropic viruses, including A, B, C, D, and E, although other viruses like the varicella virus can also lead to the disease.
- SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing Covid-19 may injure the liver too.
- Additional causes encompass drug and alcohol misuse, liver fat accumulation (fatty liver hepatitis), or an autoimmune response where the body produces antibodies targeting the liver (autoimmune hepatitis).
- It is typically caused by hepatotropic viruses, including A, B, C, D, and E, although other viruses like the varicella virus can also lead to the disease.
- Global Challenge: It is a major global public health challenge, ranking as one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths in 2022, according to the WHO report.
- The top ten countries account for almost two-thirds of the global burden of viral hepatitis B and C combined.
- In 2022, China, India, and Indonesia alone accounted for 50% of the global hepatitis B burden, while China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the USA represented 50% of the global hepatitis C burden.
- World Hepatitis Day: The world observes World Hepatitis Day on 28th July every year to promote global awareness of hepatitis prevention, early detection, and effective treatment options.
West Bengal’s Health Department’s Intervention Measures
- In recent years, the Bengal health department has implemented several key measures aimed at early intervention and prevention of Hepatitis B. These include:
- Screening of Pregnant Women: Ensuring that all pregnant mothers attending government health facilities are screened for Hepatitis B to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
- Vaccination at Birth: Administering the Hepatitis B vaccine to newborns at birth to protect them from the virus.
- Immunoglobulin for Newborns: Providing immunoglobulin to babies born to mothers who are Hepatitis B carriers to prevent the virus from being transmitted.
- Project for Triple Elimination: Bengal has taken a pioneering step by launching a project for the triple elimination of Hepatitis, syphilis, and HIV.
- Liver Foundation West Bengal: On World Hepatitis Day, the Liver Foundation West Bengal leveraged digital platforms to raise awareness about viral Hepatitis, reaching out to students across 23 schools in the state.