VIRAL hepatitis appears to be overtaking tuberculosis as the world's most deadly infectious disease.
Hepatitis B and C now claim as many lives as TB - despite the existence of vaccines and treatments - new figures show. Both viruses led to 1.3million deaths in 2022, new data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed.
Experts estimate that if the current trajectory continues, the disease will kill more people annually than malaria, TB and Aids combined by 2040.
“Despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated,” WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
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