World Hepatitis Month 2026: New WHO Data, Key Dates, Symptoms in Children

World Hepatitis Month is observed every May to raise awareness of hepatitis—a group of infectious diseases that target the liver and affect over 350 million people worldwide. Hepatitis awareness month campaigns are crucial in pushing for early testing, vaccination, and treatment access across the globe.

Recognised by healthcare organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hepatitis month is a rallying call for governments, medical professionals, and communities to work toward eliminating hepatitis as a global health threat by 2030.

---

🧭 About World Hepatitis Month

World hepatitis month takes place annually in May, with various health organisations hosting events, campaigns, and free screening drives. This extended observance builds upon the efforts of hepatitis day and World Hepatitis Day (July 28) by dedicating an entire month to liver health and viral hepatitis awareness.

Whether it’s hepatitis B awareness month, hepatitis C awareness month, or general liver health initiatives, May is hepatitis awareness month that drives public education and proactive healthcare action.

---

World Hepatitis Month 2026: Updated Theme, Key Dates and New WHO Data

World Hepatitis Month 2026 runs from Friday, 1 May through Sunday, 31 May 2026. (Source: Awarenessdays.com — Hepatitis Awareness Month 2026)

The single most important date within the month is Hepatitis Testing Day on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 — a day specifically dedicated to encouraging everyone to get tested for hepatitis B and C. (Source: CDC — Hepatitis Awareness Month)

World Hepatitis Day — the major global observance — falls on 28 July 2026, as it does every year. The date was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and developed the first diagnostic test and vaccine. (Source: WHO — World Hepatitis Day)

The 2026 WHO Global Hepatitis Report — What Parents Need to Know

On 28 April 2026, the World Health Organization released its most comprehensive global hepatitis report to date — just before World Hepatitis Summit 2026 held in Bangkok, Thailand under the theme “Elimination for Everyone, Everywhere, Right Now!” (Source: World Hepatitis Summit 2026)

Here are the most important findings from the 2026 WHO Global Hepatitis Report:

Key Finding	2026 Data	What It Means
People living with chronic hepatitis B globally	240 million	Down from 254 million in 2022 — progress, but still enormous
People living with hepatitis C globally	47 million	A significant reduction from previous estimates
Deaths from hepatitis B in 2024	1.1 million	Liver cirrhosis and liver cancer are the main causes
Deaths from hepatitis C in 2024	240,000	A 12% reduction since 2015 — treatment is working
New hepatitis B infections in 2024	0.9 million	A 32% decline since 2015 — vaccination is working
Children under 5 with chronic hepatitis B	0.6% globally	Down from 0.8% in 2015 — childhood vaccination success
HBV treatment coverage	Less than 5%	The biggest gap — most infected people are not being treated
HCV cure rate with modern treatment	More than 95%	A complete cure is achievable in 8–12 weeks

Viral hepatitis B and C — the two infections responsible for 95% of hepatitis-related deaths worldwide — claimed 1.34 million lives in 2024, with more than 4,900 new infections occurring every day. (Source: WHO — Global Hepatitis Report 2026)

The critical message from the 2026 report is this: progress towards elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 is off track. The world is not on track to eliminate viral hepatitis, despite the availability of highly effective hepatitis B vaccines, preventive interventions, and a curative treatment for hepatitis C. (Source: WHO — Global Hepatitis Report 2026)

In other words, the tools exist to end this disease. What is missing is access, awareness, and political will.

---

⚠️ Why Hepatitis Awareness Matters

Despite being preventable and, in many cases, treatable, viral hepatitis is often misunderstood or ignored. That’s why hepatitis awareness month aims to:

• Promote public education and break the stigma
• Encourage people to get tested and know their status
• Support national screening and vaccination programs
• Raise awareness of hepatitis B and C, the most dangerous forms

This month also builds on earlier efforts, such as hepatitis awareness month 2022, which reached millions through social media and healthcare provider campaigns.

---

📊 Hepatitis by the Numbers (2024–2025)

Key Metric	Data	Source
People living with hepatitis B or C	354 million	WHO
Annual deaths from hepatitis	1.1 million	CDC
Percentage of people unaware of their infection	90%	World Hepatitis Alliance
Countries with national hepatitis strategies	70+	World Hepatitis Alliance

These sobering stats highlight why national hepatitis awareness month is essential to mobilise global and local action.

---

🔬 Understanding the Types of Hepatitis

During hepatitis awareness month, public health officials focus on educating the public about the different types of hepatitis, how they spread, and how they can be prevented or treated.

Types of Hepatitis:

• Hepatitis A: Transmitted through contaminated food or water; vaccine available.
• Hepatitis B: Spread through bodily fluids; hepatitis B awareness is crucial as it can become chronic.
• Hepatitis C: Spread through blood; curable but no vaccine yet—hepatitis C awareness is a focus for treatment and harm reduction.
• Hepatitis D & E: Less common but linked to HBV and poor sanitation.

Hepatitis B and C are the major causes of liver disease, cirrhosis, and cancer, and are the primary focus during hepatitis b awareness month and hepatitis c awareness month.

---

📅 Key Dates in Hepatitis Awareness Calendar

Date	Event
Entire Month of May	World Hepatitis Month
May (U.S.)	National Hepatitis Awareness Month
May 19	Hepatitis Testing Day (U.S. CDC)
July 28	World Hepatitis Day
Past Event	Hepatitis Awareness Month 2022

May is hepatitis awareness month across many nations, with support from agencies like the CDC and WHO.

---

🛡️ Prevention, Vaccination & Treatment

• Vaccines: Available for hepatitis A and B.
• Cure: Hepatitis C is now curable with direct-acting antiviral treatments.
• Testing: Recommended for high-risk groups, pregnant women, and people born before 1965.
• Awareness Campaigns: Key during hepatitis month to inform the public about free or subsidised testing options.

Organisations use this month to distribute educational materials, launch screening camps, and promote hepatitis testing days that are often free of charge.

---

📣 How to Participate in World Hepatitis Month

Here are simple yet impactful ways individuals and organisations can contribute during hepatitis awareness month:

For Individuals:

• Get tested for hepatitis B and C
• Share information using the hashtag #HepatitisAwareness
• Educate friends and family on transmission and prevention
• Wear green—the colour of hepatitis awareness

For Organisations:

• Host webinars and seminars
• Distribute brochures and flyers
• Organise vaccination drives
• Partner with clinics for free testing

---

Hepatitis C Symptoms in Children: What Every Parent Must Recognise

Read our post on hepatitis C symptoms for the full non-verbal specific guide. It covers the broader picture for all children.

Here is the most important thing parents need to know: most children with hepatitis C have no symptoms at all — especially in the early years. This is precisely why hepatitis C is so dangerous and so under-diagnosed in children. The virus can silently damage the liver for years before any signs appear. (Source: NIH/PMC — Update on Pediatric Hepatitis C Infection, 2025)

When Symptoms Do Appear in Children — What to Look For

Symptom	What It Looks Like in Children	Stage
Fatigue and low energy	The child seems unusually tired, less active than usual, naps more than expected	Early
Poor appetite	Consistently refusing meals, slow weight gain, loss of interest in food	Early
Stomach pain	Abdominal discomfort, particularly upper right side where the liver sits	Early to mid
Nausea	Frequent upset stomach, occasional vomiting	Early to mid
Jaundice (yellowing)	Yellow tint to skin and whites of eyes — a later sign, often absent in children	Mid to late
Dark urine	Urine appears tea-coloured or orange-brown	Mid to late
Pale or grey stools	Stools appear unusually light-coloured	Mid to late
Swollen abdomen	Fluid accumulation from liver damage — a late sign requiring immediate medical attention	Late

(Source: NIH/PMC — Hepatitis C Virus, Pediatric and Adult Perspectives, 2025)

How Hepatitis C Is Transmitted to Children

The most common way children acquire hepatitis C is through perinatal transmission — from a mother infected with HCV during pregnancy or delivery. Approximately 6–7% of infants born to HCV-positive mothers will acquire the infection. (Source: CDC — MMWR, 2023)

Transmission Route	Details
Perinatal (mother to baby)	Most common in children — 6–7% transmission rate from HCV-positive mother
Blood contact	Through contaminated medical equipment, transfusions (now rare in developed countries)
Sharing needles	Relevant for older adolescents
Sexual transmission	Relevant in adolescence

It is important to know that breastfeeding does not transmit hepatitis C unless the mother has cracked or bleeding nipples — in that case, a brief pause is recommended. (Source: CDC — Hepatitis C and Breastfeeding)

The New CDC Testing Guidelines for Children (2023 Update) — What Parents Must Know

In 2023, the CDC released updated guidelines significantly improving how hepatitis C is detected in children. These updated recommendations include:

• A nucleic acid test (NAT) for HCV RNA should be done at 2–6 months of age for all infants born to HCV-positive mothers — replacing the old practice of waiting until 18 months
• This earlier testing window catches infected babies sooner and allows earlier treatment
• Curative direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy is now approved for children as young as 3 years old and achieves cure rates of more than 95% (Source: NIH/PMC — CDC New HCV Testing Recommendations, 2024)

If you are a parent with hepatitis C and you are pregnant or have recently given birth, request HCV RNA testing for your baby at 2–6 months of age. This is your child’s best protection. (Source: CDC — MMWR HCV Testing Guidelines)

---

Hepatitis and Children with Special Needs: What No Other Website Has Written

This section is exclusive to your special needs audience — and covers ground that no major hepatitis organisation, no government health agency, and no awareness campaign has addressed specifically.

Children with special needs face specific hepatitis-related challenges that neurotypical children do not. Understanding these challenges helps parents, carers, and healthcare providers act appropriately.

Why Children with Special Needs May Be at Higher Risk

Risk Factor	Which Children Are Affected	Why
Institutional care or shared residential settings	Autistic children, children with intellectual disabilities who live in group homes	Hepatitis A and B can spread in shared living environments with close personal contact
Frequent medical procedures	Children with complex medical histories, those requiring surgery, blood draws, or IV access	More medical contact = more potential exposure points
Immunosuppressive medications	Children on certain medications for epilepsy, autoimmune conditions, or transplant management	Immune suppression may increase severity of hepatitis infection
Communication barriers	Non-verbal children, children with limited pain expression	Cannot reliably communicate abdominal pain, nausea, or fatigue — symptoms go unnoticed longer
Sensory-based avoidance of medical care	Autistic children, children with sensory processing differences	Screening and vaccination appointments are difficult, leading to delayed immunisation

(Source: CDC — Hepatitis B Vaccination Recommendations)

Hepatitis B Vaccination — Critical for All Children, Including Those with Special Needs

The CDC recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all infants, children, and adults up to age 59, and for adults 60 and older with risk factors. (Source: Awarenessdays.com — Hepatitis Awareness Month 2026)

For children with special needs, vaccination is equally — and in some cases more — important, but it is sometimes delayed because of:

• Difficulty attending routine vaccination appointments due to behavioural challenges
• Parental worry that the injection will cause a meltdown or sensory crisis
• Multiple competing medical appointments taking priority
• Lack of sensory-friendly vaccination clinic options

The solution is not to skip vaccination — it is to prepare properly.

Making Vaccination Appointments Sensory-Friendly for Special Needs Children

Here is a practical guide to reduce the stress of hepatitis B vaccination appointments for children with sensory sensitivities:

• Visit the clinic before the appointment — a no-obligation familiarisation visit to see the room, meet the nurse, and smell the environment dramatically reduces anxiety on the actual day
• Request a quiet appointment time — early morning or the last slot of the day avoids crowded waiting rooms
• Bring comfort items — a preferred toy, sensory tool, or comfort object that is only used for medical visits
• Use a social story beforehand — prepare a simple visual sequence: arrive at clinic → sit in waiting room → enter room → feel a small pinch → all done → reward
• Ask about numbing cream (EMLA) — applied to the arm 45–60 minutes before the injection, it significantly reduces the pain sensation for children with heightened sensitivity to physical pain
• Plan the reward immediately after — a guaranteed, preferred reward for completing the appointment is one of the most effective tools for building tolerance to medical visits over time

(Source: CDC — Making Vaccination Less Stressful)

Hepatitis C Screening for Children Born to Mothers with Special Needs

A further consideration specific to your audience: mothers with intellectual disabilities or mental health conditions may be at higher risk of hepatitis C exposure, and their babies should be screened accordingly.

If you are a parent with special needs, or caring for a family where the mother has a history of HCV exposure, request appropriate testing for the child through your paediatrician. (Source: NIH/PMC — HCV in Perinatally Exposed Children, 2023)

---

Hepatitis Testing Day — May 19, 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Hepatitis Testing Day falls on Tuesday, 19 May 2026 — the most important single day within Hepatitis Awareness Month. It is a day dedicated to one simple action: getting tested.

Here is why testing matters so urgently:

An estimated 2.4 million people in the United States are living with hepatitis C, and around 860,000 have chronic hepatitis B — yet a significant proportion remain undiagnosed. (Source: Awarenessdays.com — Hepatitis Awareness Month 2026)

Many people with chronic hepatitis B or C feel completely well for years or even decades while the virus silently damages their liver. This is why testing is the only reliable way to know. (Source: Awarenessdays.com)

Who Should Be Tested — The Current Recommendations

Who	What Test	How Often
All adults aged 18 and older	Hepatitis B and hepatitis C blood test	At least once in a lifetime; more if risk factors apply
All pregnant women	Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) test	Each pregnancy
Infants born to HCV-positive mothers	HCV RNA (nucleic acid test)	At 2–6 months of age (Source: CDC — MMWR)
People who inject drugs	Hepatitis C antibody test	Annually
People with HIV	Hepatitis B and C tests	Regularly
Healthcare workers	Hepatitis B test and vaccination check	Upon entry to the profession

How to Get Tested on Hepatitis Testing Day

• Ask your GP or primary care doctor for a hepatitis B and C blood test — in most healthcare systems this is a simple routine blood test
• Search for free testing events in your area — many community health centres, hospitals, and pharmacies offer free or low-cost hepatitis screening during May (Source: CDC)
• Use the NASTAD testing locator for the United States — the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors maintains a database of local testing sites (nastad.org)

---

Hepatitis Myths vs Facts: Clearing Up the Most Dangerous Misconceptions

Stigma and misinformation about hepatitis prevent millions of people from getting tested and treated. During World Hepatitis Month, correcting these myths is as important as sharing statistics.

Myth	Fact
“Hepatitis only affects people who use drugs.”	False. Hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted through birth from an infected mother — babies are the highest-risk group for chronic infection. Anyone can be infected. (Source: WHO)
“If I feel well, I don’t have hepatitis.”	False. Most people with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C have no symptoms for years or decades while the virus silently damages their liver. Feeling well means nothing without a test. (Source: WHO)
“Hepatitis C can’t be cured.”	False. Hepatitis C is now curable with direct-acting antiviral medications that achieve cure rates above 95% in a course lasting 8 to 12 weeks. (Source: Awarenessdays.com)
“You can get hepatitis from sharing food or hugging someone.”	False for hepatitis B and C. These are bloodborne viruses — they cannot be transmitted through food, water, hugging, kissing (unless blood is present), or casual contact. Hepatitis A is food and water transmitted. (Source: WHO)
“Children don’t need to worry about hepatitis.”	False. In 2024, global chronic HBV prevalence among children under 5 years was 0.6%, well above the 2030 target of 0.1%. Children are particularly vulnerable through perinatal transmission. (Source: WHO — Global Hepatitis Report 2026)
“The hepatitis B vaccine is optional.”	False. WHO recommends universal hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns within 24 hours of birth. Since 1990, childhood hepatitis B vaccination has averted over 22 million deaths globally. (Source: UN Chronicle)
“I can’t get treated for hepatitis if I have another condition.”	False. Hepatitis B and C treatment can be safely combined with management of most other conditions. A specialist can guide co-management. (Source: WHO)

---

The Progress Made and the Work Still Ahead: 2026 Global Hepatitis Update

During World Hepatitis Month 2026, it is worth acknowledging both the remarkable progress that has been made and the significant gaps that remain.

What Is Working

The annual number of new hepatitis B infections has dropped by 32% since 2015, and hepatitis C-related deaths have fallen by 12% globally. (Source: WHO — April 28, 2026)

Specifically:

• Global three-dose hepatitis B vaccine coverage increased substantially from 82% to 87% (Source: NIH/PMC — World Hepatitis Day 2025 Progress Review)
• Eighty-five countries have now achieved the 2030 target for children under 5 years (Source: WHO Global Hepatitis Report 2026)
• Egypt became the first country to receive WHO hepatitis elimination certification in 2024 (Source: NIH/PMC)
• Between 2014 and 2023, an estimated 12,748,000 hepatitis C patients received direct-acting antiviral treatment (Source: NIH/PMC)

Where the Gaps Remain

Gap	The Problem
Treatment coverage for hepatitis B	Fewer than 5% of the 240 million people living with chronic hepatitis B were receiving treatment in 2024 (Source: WHO)
Birth-dose vaccination in Africa	In 2024, birth-dose coverage in the WHO African Region was only 17% (Source: WHO)
Hepatitis C treatment access	Only 20% of people eligible for HCV treatment have received it since 2015 (Source: WHO)
Stigma and awareness	Stigma plays a role, as some people avoid testing because they fear discrimination — reducing stigma is as critical as improving medical access (Source: Gulf News / WHO)

---

How to Participate in World Hepatitis Month 2026 — A Practical Action Guide

Participation in World Hepatitis Month does not require medical training or a large platform. Here is what every person, family, and organisation can do:

For Individuals and Families

Action	How to Do It
Get tested on Hepatitis Testing Day (19 May 2026)	Ask your GP for a hepatitis B and C blood test — the most powerful thing anyone can do
Vaccinate your child for hepatitis B	Check your child’s vaccination record. If they are not up to date, contact your paediatrician immediately
Share awareness on social media	Use official hashtags #WorldHepatitisSMonth #HepatitisTesting #EliminationForEveryone
Wear red	The red ribbon is the symbol of hepatitis awareness — wear it, post it, share it
Talk openly about hepatitis	Every conversation that reduces stigma saves lives

For Parents of Children with Special Needs Specifically

• Check your child’s hepatitis B vaccination record — if vaccinations were delayed due to medical complexity or sensory avoidance, speak to your paediatrician about catching up
• If your child was born to a mother with hepatitis C, confirm the child was tested using HCV RNA (not just antibody testing) after the new 2023 CDC guidelines (Source: CDC — MMWR)
• Ask about hepatitis A vaccine if your child attends a specialised school or residential setting — hepatitis A can spread in settings with close personal care
• Share the non-verbal hepatitis C symptoms guide with your child’s teachers, therapists, and carers — see our detailed guide: Beyond Jaundice: Recognising Atypical Hepatitis C Symptoms in Non-Verbal Children

For Healthcare Providers

• Screen all pregnant patients for HCV — and follow the 2023 CDC updated guidelines for testing perinatally exposed infants at 2–6 months of age (Source: CDC — MMWR)
• Ensure children with developmental disabilities are up to date with hepatitis B vaccination — this group is frequently missed in vaccination tracking
• Offer sensory-friendly appointment options for patients with autism or other sensory processing differences

---

🌐 Resources & Authorities

To stay updated and get involved with world hepatitis month, check out these trustworthy sources:

• World Health Organisation
• CDC Hepatitis Division
• Hepatitis B Foundation
• World Hepatitis Alliance

These organisations provide toolkits, campaign materials, infographics, and event schedules to support hepatitis awareness month efforts.

---

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is World Hepatitis Month?

It is an annual health awareness campaign in May dedicated to educating the public about the risks, prevention, and treatment of all types of hepatitis.

2. Why is May recognised as hepatitis awareness month?

The CDC and other global health agencies designated May as national hepatitis awareness month to encourage testing, reduce stigma, and raise visibility for liver health.

3. What’s the difference between hepatitis B and C awareness?

Hepatitis B awareness focuses on vaccination and chronic condition management, while hepatitis C awareness emphasizes testing and treatment since the virus is curable.

4. How can I participate in hepatitis awareness month?

You can share facts on social media, get tested, attend local events, or host community education workshops.

5. When is World Hepatitis Month 2026?

While World Hepatitis Day is July 28, awareness activities often span the entire month of July to promote global elimination efforts.

6. What is Hepatitis Testing Day?

Observed on May 19, this day encourages people to learn their status and promotes testing for viral hepatitis to prevent long-term liver damage.

7. What are the symptoms of hepatitis C in children?

Most children are asymptomatic, but some may experience fatigue, jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes), dark urine, or loss of appetite.

8. Is hepatitis C curable in children?

Yes, modern direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medications are highly effective and can cure hepatitis C in children as young as three years old.

9. Who should be vaccinated against hepatitis B?

The vaccine is recommended for all infants at birth, children who weren’t vaccinated earlier, and adults at higher risk due to health or environmental factors.

10. What did the 2026 WHO Global Hepatitis Report find?

The 2026 report highlights a critical need for expanded testing access, noting that while treatment rates have improved, millions still remain undiagnosed globally.

---

🧾 Conclusion: It’s Time to Act

World Hepatitis Month isn’t just a health observance—it’s a global movement to fight a silent epidemic. From hepatitis B awareness month to broader national campaigns, this May is your chance to join hands in eliminating viral hepatitis.

Testing saves lives. Treatment brings hope. Awareness drives change. Let’s make hepatitis history.

---