World Hepatitis Day

What Is World Hepatitis Day?

Every year on July 28, the world observes "World Hepatitis Day," officially designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the World Health Assembly in 2010. The date honors the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1976. This international day calls for greater awareness of hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment, supporting the WHO goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. In Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare also marks July 28 as "Japan Hepatitis Day."

Dr. Blumberg and the Discovery of the Hepatitis B Virus

The fight against hepatitis took a major leap forward once the virus behind it could be identified.

• Discovery of the "Australia antigen": In the 1960s, while studying inherited differences in blood proteins, Dr. Blumberg found an unknown antigen in the blood of an Aboriginal Australian and named it the "Australia antigen." It was later shown to be part of the hepatitis B virus (the HBs antigen), opening the door to diagnostic tests and vaccine development.
• The impact of the vaccine: The spread of the hepatitis B vaccine has greatly reduced new infections, including mother-to-child transmission, worldwide. Because hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer, the vaccine is sometimes called a "vaccine against cancer." In Japan, it became part of the routine infant immunization schedule in 2016.

The "Silent Organ"

The liver carries out many vital roles, including metabolizing nutrients, breaking down harmful substances, and producing bile.

• Many jobs at once: The liver stores nutrients from food and converts them into forms the body can use, breaks down alcohol and medicines, and produces bile to aid fat digestion.
• Regeneration and why it stays "silent": The liver can grow back close to its original size even after part of it is removed. But because inflammation often progresses without noticeable symptoms, it is called "the silent organ." Blood tests and other checkups are important for catching problems early.

Fascinating Facts About Hepatitis

• Types of viral hepatitis: Viral hepatitis ranges from type A to type E; types B and C are the main ones that can become chronic and lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
• Hepatitis C is now curable: Once hard to treat, hepatitis C can now be cleared in most patients with oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).
• Many people don't know they are infected: Many people with hepatitis virus infections are thought to be living without symptoms.
• Fatty liver: Even people who don't drink can develop fatty liver from overeating and lack of exercise.
• Free testing: In Japan, hepatitis B and C virus tests are available free or at low cost at many public health centers and designated clinics.

Ideas for Spending World Hepatitis Day

• Revisit your latest health checkup results and look at liver-related values such as AST (GOT), ALT (GPT), and γ-GTP.
• If you've never been tested for hepatitis viruses, look up the testing information from your local government or health center.
• If you drink, review how much you drink and whether you take alcohol-free days.
• Talk with family or friends about hepatitis testing and vaccination.

A Day to Pay Attention to a Quietly Working Organ

July 28 is a day to learn about liver diseases that often cause no symptoms, and to think about testing and prevention. More than half a century after Dr. Blumberg's discovery, hepatitis B can be prevented with a vaccine and hepatitis C can be treated with oral medicine. If you have never been tested for hepatitis viruses, this is a good day to look into it.