Health Bulletin 02/ April/ 2024

In a landmark move, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released groundbreaking guidelines to address the global challenge of chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection. Unveiled at the 2024 Asian Pacific Conference for the Study of Liver Disease in Kyoto, Japan, these guidelines aim to simplify and expand access to HBV testing and treatment, marking a crucial step towards the WHO's goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. With over 250 million people worldwide living with HBV, the new WHO guidelines focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission, a key transmission route, by recommending antiviral treatment for pregnant women and immediate newborn vaccination. This approach not only aims to reduce the global burden of HBV but also prevents liver-related complications, aligning with India's efforts to curb the disease through its Universal Immunization Program (UIP).

Additionally, they focus on improving HBV diagnostics, addressing hepatitis delta coinfection, and enhancing the delivery of HBV services to ensure long-term adherence to therapy and retention in care.

The researchers used modeling groups from the Vaccine Impact Modelling Consortium from 112 low- and middle-income countries to estimate vaccine effects for 14 disease-causing pathogens. They revealed close to 50,000 additional deaths globally are estimated between 2020 and 2030 due to pandemic-related disruptions to immunization.