World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28, raises awareness about viral hepatitis—a group of infections that can cause serious liver disease. The day highlights the importance of prevention, testing, treatment, and access to reliable health information, while encouraging people to learn more about protecting their liver health.

It also honors the efforts of health professionals, advocates, researchers, and communities working toward a future where hepatitis is no longer a major public health threat. World Hepatitis Day invites everyone to share accurate information, challenge stigma, and support a world in which people can access the care they need.

World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on **July 28** to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, a group of infectious diseases that can cause serious liver damage, cirrhosis, and cancer. The observance also encourages prevention, testing, vaccination where available, and access to treatment. Its date commemorates the birthday of **Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg**, the American scientist who discovered the hepatitis B virus and helped develop the first hepatitis B vaccine. Blumberg received the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work.

The observance grew out of efforts by patient organizations, public-health advocates, and the World Hepatitis Alliance to bring greater attention to hepatitis, which was often less visible in public discussion than other major infectious diseases. An international hepatitis awareness day was initially associated with **May 19**, but the World Health Organization selected **July 28** as the official global date in 2010. The first World Hepatitis Day under the WHO-led framework took place in 2011, giving governments and health organizations a common occasion for coordinated education and advocacy.

Over time, World Hepatitis Day has developed from a general awareness campaign into an international public-health effort focused on eliminating viral hepatitis as a major health threat. Activities commonly include screening and testing drives, vaccination information, medical conferences, public lectures, media campaigns, and outreach to communities with limited access to healthcare. Particular attention is often given to hepatitis B and hepatitis C, which can remain undiagnosed for years while causing progressive liver disease, although hepatitis A, D, and E are also part of the broader hepatitis picture.

The day has cultural significance because it helps turn a frequently overlooked medical issue into a shared social concern. It gives people affected by hepatitis an opportunity to speak openly, challenges misinformation and stigma, and emphasizes that prevention and treatment should be available to everyone. By observing World Hepatitis Day on **July 28**, health agencies and communities worldwide connect personal stories with broader efforts to expand diagnosis, improve care, prevent new infections, and reduce avoidable deaths from liver disease.