The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic, placing it in the same category as hepatitis B and C.
Viral hepatitis, types A, B, C, D, and E, affects millions each year. However, only hepatitis B, C, and D can lead to chronic infections that heighten the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Hepatitis D, which only occurs in individuals already infected with hepatitis B, is now recognised as posing a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer compared to hepatitis B alone. Hepatitis D is transmitted through contact with infected blood or other bodily fluids, similar to hepatitis B. Common symptoms include fatigue, jaundice, joint pain, dark urine or swelling in the legs or abdomen.
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Despite its impact, most people living with hepatitis remain undiagnosed. Together, types B, C, and D affect more than 300 million people globally, causing over 1.3 million deaths annually, according to the WHO data.
As of 2022, only 13% of people with hepatitis B and 36% with hepatitis C had been diagnosed. Treatment coverage is even lower, at just 3% for hepatitis B and 20% for hepatitis C, well below WHO’s 2025 targets of 60% diagnosed and 50% treated.
Treatments for hepatitis C can cure the infection within 2–3 months, while hepatitis B can be managed with lifelong therapy. Treatment for hepatitis D is still evolving, but experts stress that improving access to diagnosis, vaccination, and care is crucial to reducing liver cancer deaths.
