Today is World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on July 28 to raise awareness about Hepatitis -- a serious liver disease that can be caused due to bacteria, viruses or parasites.

Hepatitis virus has five commonly known strains: Type A, B, C, D. All of them affect the liver but there are some key differences in origin, transmission and severity of the disease. Hepatitis can be preventable with immunization and manageable, but there is no cure at present.

World Hepatitis Day is commemorated on July 28 to raise awareness about the disease. The day also remembers the victims of hepatitis.

Initially observed on May 19, World Hepatitis Day was moved to July 28 in 2010. The World Hepatitis Alliance was founded in the year 2007, and in 2008, the first



community-organised World Hepatitis Day was observed. This happened after the World Health Assembly decided to commemorate the birthday of Baruch Samuel Blumberg. He was the American physician who discovered Hepatitis B in the 1960s.

The aim is to raise awareness among common people about the dangers of this serious liver disease and its prevention.

Hepatitis affects people in different ways. Some may face fatigue, stomach pain or fever, while others may not even know that they have Hepatitis. A section of people develop serious health ailments, which include liver failure or brain damage. Vaccination has proven effective in preventing hepatitis, which is why it is recommended at the earliest possible.