Bangladesh Faces Hidden Hepatitis Crisis as 10 Million Live with Infection, Most Unaware

Bangladesh is facing a growing public health challenge as an estimated 10 million people are living with hepatitis B and C, while the vast majority remain unaware of their condition, according to liver disease specialists ahead of World Hepatitis Day.


Experts warn that viral hepatitis causes between 20,000 and 21,000 deaths every year in Bangladesh, primarily through liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, placing the country among the ten most affected nations worldwide.

Medical specialists are calling for nationwide hepatitis screening, expanded vaccination coverage and stronger public awareness initiatives to help Bangladesh meet the World Health Organization's target of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.


Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, chairman of the Department of Hepatology at Bangladesh Medical University and president of the Hepatology Society, said low public awareness remains the biggest obstacle in tackling the disease. He noted that nearly 90% of people infected with hepatitis B or C do not know they carry the virus.

According to him, hepatitis often progresses silently for 10 to 20 years, gradually damaging the liver without noticeable symptoms. By the time many patients receive a diagnosis, they have already developed serious complications, including liver cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. He stressed that every adult should undergo hepatitis B and C screening at least once.


Health experts say Bangladesh has made significant progress since hepatitis B vaccination was introduced under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in 2003, leading to a sharp decline in infections among children. However, many adults aged 25 and above were never vaccinated during childhood and should be screened and immunised if necessary.


Professor Shahinul also highlighted the importance of vaccinating women of reproductive age to reduce mother-to-child transmission. Around 8.5 million people in Bangladesh are living with hepatitis B, including nearly 1.8 million women between the ages of 18 and 45. Early screening and vaccination before pregnancy, he said, could significantly reduce new infections in future generations.


This year's World Hepatitis Day theme, "Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down," focuses on removing barriers that prevent people from accessing testing, vaccination and treatment services.

According to the Hepatology Society, approximately 5.7 million men, 2.8 million women and 400,000 children in Bangladesh are infected with hepatitis B. The organisation also estimates that at least one member of around 1.5 million families is a hepatitis B carrier.

Doctors explain that hepatitis has five primary types A, B, C, D and E with hepatitis B and C responsible for most chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer cases. While hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination, experts say broader immunisation and routine screening are among the most cost-effective ways to reduce future healthcare costs and save lives.

They also recommend expanding hepatitis A vaccination, ensuring access to safe drinking water and improving sanitation to reduce hepatitis E infections.


Professor Dr Md Golam Azam, head of the Department of Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disorders at BIRDEM General Hospital, said Bangladesh can achieve the 2030 elimination target through universal birth-dose hepatitis B vaccination, safe healthcare practices and regular screening programmes.

He emphasised that coordinated efforts involving the government, healthcare professionals, researchers, media organisations and the public are essential to creating a hepatitis-free Bangladesh.


Marking World Hepatitis Day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reaffirmed the government's commitment to eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030. He noted that millions of people worldwide develop liver cirrhosis and liver cancer every year due to hepatitis B and C, but stressed that these diseases are largely preventable through timely vaccination, early diagnosis, safe healthcare practices and proper treatment.