28 July is World Hepatitis Day, a global awareness campaign led by the World Health Organization (WHO). The campaign aims to accelerate action towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
This year’s theme, ‘Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down‘, highlights the need to break down the barriers that prevent millions of people from accessing prevention, testing, treatment, and care. Despite effective vaccines being available against hepatitis B and highly effective curative treatments for hepatitis C, as well as antiviral therapies capable of controlling hepatitis B infection, significant challenges remain. These include limited access to healthcare, late diagnosis, stigma and inequalities in health systems.
According to the WHO, an estimated 287 million people were living with a chronic hepatitis B or C infection in 2024. Viral hepatitis causes approximately 1.3 million deaths each year, primarily from cirrhosis and liver cancer. These figures highlight that viral hepatitis remains one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases worldwide despite being largely preventable and, in many cases, treatable.
In Portugal, significant progress has been made in recent decades thanks to universal hepatitis B vaccination, widespread access to direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C and targeted screening strategies. Nevertheless, important challenges persist, particularly in identifying undiagnosed infections, ensuring equitable access to care, and achieving national and global targets for hepatitis elimination.
A matter of growing concern is the recent increase in hepatitis A cases. Following outbreaks reported since 2024, Portugal experienced a marked rise in notified hepatitis A infections during 2025, largely associated with person-to-person transmission, including sexual transmission, and outbreaks linked to poor sanitation conditions. This trend mirrors the epidemiological situation observed in several other European countries and highlights the need to reinforce public health measures, including vaccination of at-risk populations, surveillance, health promotion, and timely outbreak response.
GHTM research is advancing the fight against viral hepatitis
Researchers at the PRIME-GHTM Research Group continue to make important contributions to our understanding of, and ability to control, viral hepatitis through multidisciplinary research spanning molecular epidemiology, public health, and global health.
The Facilitator of the Genomic Surveillance and Population Mobility Cross-cutting Issue, Ana Abecasis, has made significant contributions to the molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of hepatitis viruses. Her work has advanced our understanding of viral evolution and transmission dynamics, as well as the application of molecular surveillance to support public health interventions.
Vítor Pimentel has contributed to research on the epidemiology of viral hepatitis and the evaluation of public health strategies aimed at improving diagnosis, surveillance and access to care. His work provides valuable evidence to inform policies supporting the elimination of hepatitis.
Cruz Sebastião has focused on the molecular characterisation and genetic diversity of hepatitis viruses, particularly in African settings, including Portuguese-speaking countries. His research strengthens genomic surveillance efforts and improves our understanding of viral circulation and evolution in regions that are disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis.
Together, their work exemplifies GHTM’s dedication to producing robust scientific evidence to bolster the global response to viral hepatitis and help achieve the WHO’s elimination targets.
On World Hepatitis Day, GHTM| IHMT NOVA joins the global call to break down the barriers to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. By advancing research, strengthening international collaboration and translating scientific knowledge into public health action, we can help ensure that viral hepatitis no longer poses a public health threat and that no one is left behind.
