Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the most frequent ones and they annually cause 1.1 million deaths and 3 million infections globally. They represent one of the main causes of hepatic cirrhosis and liver cancer. Some of the types of hepatitis can be prevented by vaccination. Approximately 4.5 million premature deaths can be prevented in countries with low and average incomes until 2030 by vaccination, diagnostic tests, medicines and education campaigns, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection said on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day that is annually celebrated on July 28, IPN reports.

Four cases of acute viral hepatitis B, 11 cases of acute viral hepatitis C, 242 cases of chronic viral hepatitis B without Delta antigen, 29 cases of viral hepatitis B with delta antigen and 291 cases of chronic viral hepatitis C were recorded in Moldova in January-June 2021.

According to statistics, 1,422 cases of viral hepatitis were logged in Moldova in 2020, with 98% of the cases being chronic forms of the disease, as opposed to 2,957 cases in 2019. The viral hepatitis B and C screening based on rapid diagnostic tests was implemented in 2020, increasing the population’s access to testing. The antiviral treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis and viral hepatic cirrhosis B, C, D is free and accessible, including to patients from penitentiaries and from other vulnerable groups.

Since the antiviral treatment at national level was initiated in November 2016 until December 2020, over 22,000 patients were put on antiviral treatment. The efficiency of the treatment was estimated at 97%.

This year’s theme of World Hepatitis Day is “Hepatitis can’t wait”, conveying the urgency of efforts needed to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.