World Hepatitis Day 2020

World Hepatitis Day is celebrated each year on 28 July to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes a range of health problems, including liver cancer.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2020

Key-Points

The day is marked in honour of American physician and geneticist Baruch Samuel Blumberg for his work on the hepatitis B.

The Nobel Laureate, who was born on July 28, 1925, identified the hepatitis B virus, and later developed its diagnostic test and vaccine.

After a resolution was adopted during the 63rd World Health Assembly in May 2010, World Hepatitis Day was given global endorsement.

There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Together, Hepatitis B and C are the most common cause of deaths, with 1.4 million lives lost each year. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, viral hepatitis continues to claim thousands of lives every day.

This year’s theme is “Hepatitis-free future,” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B (HBV) among mothers and newborns.

World Hepatitis Day provides an opportunity to focus on actions such as raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis and how they are transmitted.

To strengthen prevention, screening and control of viral hepatitis and its related diseases.

It is also a day to highlight the importance of increasing hepatitis B vaccine coverage, and to coordinate a global response to hepatitis.