Nigeria has been named among the countries carrying a heavy share of global deaths linked to hepatitis, according to a new report released by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The global health body, in a statement published on Tuesday, said Nigeria is among ten countries responsible for a large percentage of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide in 2024. The report raises fresh concern about the impact of viral hepatitis, especially in developing countries where access to healthcare remains a challenge.
Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver often caused by viral infections, continues to pose a serious health risk worldwide. The most dangerous types, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are responsible for about 95 per cent of all hepatitis-related deaths globally.
According to the WHO, about 1.34 million people died from hepatitis B and C infections in 2024 alone. The report also revealed that more than 4,900 people are newly infected every day, amounting to about 1.8 million new infections each year.
Nigeria’s inclusion in the list of countries most affected highlights the scale of the problem in the country. Alongside Nigeria, other countries listed include Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Africa and Viet Nam. These ten countries accounted for about 69 per cent of all hepatitis B-related deaths globally in 2024.
For hepatitis C, the spread is slightly wider across regions, but Nigeria still ranks among the most affected nations. Other countries on that list include China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam. Together, they made up 58 per cent of hepatitis C-related deaths worldwide.
The findings are part of the WHO’s 2026 Global Hepatitis Report, which tracks progress made since 2015 and measures how close countries are to meeting the global target of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
The report shows that while there has been some improvement, progress is still slow and uneven. Since 2015, there has been a 32 per cent reduction in new hepatitis B infections and a 12 per cent drop in deaths caused by hepatitis C. These gains, though encouraging, are not enough to meet the 2030 target.
One positive development highlighted in the report is the decline in hepatitis B infection among young children. The prevalence rate among children under five has dropped to 0.6 per cent globally. About 85 countries have already met or gone beyond the 2030 target of reducing this figure to 0.1 per cent.
However, the situation in Africa remains worrying. The report shows that Africa accounted for 68 per cent of all new hepatitis B infections in 2024. Despite this high burden, only 17 per cent of newborns in the region received the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. This gap in vaccination coverage is seen as a major factor driving new infections.
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said that although eliminating hepatitis is possible, many countries are not moving fast enough.
He explained that some nations have shown strong commitment and made real progress, proving that elimination can be achieved. However, he warned that millions of people remain undiagnosed and untreated, mainly due to stigma, weak healthcare systems and poor access to medical services.
Ghebreyesus stressed that urgent action is needed to increase prevention, testing and treatment efforts if the world is to meet the 2030 elimination goal.
The report estimates that about 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections in 2024. Out of these, 0.9 million people were newly infected with hepatitis B during the year, while another 0.9 million were infected with hepatitis C.
For hepatitis C, the report points to drug use as a major risk factor, with people who inject drugs accounting for 44 per cent of new infections globally.
Despite the availability of effective treatment, access remains limited. The WHO revealed that fewer than five per cent of the estimated 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B are currently receiving treatment. For hepatitis C, about 20 per cent of patients have received treatment since 2015.
This is particularly concerning because hepatitis C can be cured with modern medicines that have a success rate of over 95 per cent. Experts say wider access to these treatments could significantly reduce deaths.
In 2024, hepatitis B caused about 1.1 million deaths, while hepatitis C led to about 240,000 deaths. Most of these deaths were due to complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, which often develop when the disease is not detected or treated early.
The WHO report also highlights examples of countries that have made strong progress in controlling hepatitis. Nations such as Egypt, Georgia, Rwanda and the United Kingdom have shown that elimination is possible through sustained investment, strong policies and commitment from government leaders.
These countries have expanded vaccination programs, improved access to testing and treatment, and strengthened their healthcare systems to tackle the disease more effectively.
The WHO is now calling on countries, including Nigeria, to take urgent steps to improve their response. These include increasing vaccination coverage, especially for newborns, expanding testing services to identify infected individuals, and making treatment more affordable and accessible.
While global progress against hepatitis is improving, the WHO warns that current efforts are not enough to meet the 2030 target. Without stronger action, millions more lives could be lost to a disease that is largely preventable and, in some cases, curable.
For Nigeria, the report serves as a wake-up call. Health officials say more investment and stronger policies will be needed to reduce the burden of hepatitis and protect the population from its long-term effects.
As the world works toward eliminating hepatitis, the focus remains on closing the gaps in care and ensuring that no country is left behind in the fight against this silent but deadly disease.