World Hepatitis Day 2026 – A Scottish perspective
Posted on 28 July 2026 by Duncan McCormick
- Health protection
Taking place every year on 28 July, Public Health Scotland supports World Hepatitis Day, which aims to increase awareness of viral hepatitis and the effect it has across the globe and to influence real change. Duncan McCormick, Consultant in Public Health Medicine in our Blood Borne Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections team, explains the current situation in Scotland.
Each year, more than a million people globally lose their lives to hepatitis.
This continues even though we have a proven vaccination that could prevent 95% of newborns from contracting hepatitis B, as well as highly effective antiviral medications to cure hepatitis C virus (HCV) in most cases.
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver which may be caused by a number of things including viral infections like hepatitis B and C. It often does not cause any symptoms, which is why around half of people living with hepatitis B or C don’t know they have it.
How many people are affected in Scotland?
The data presented in the latest PHS hepatitis B report (up to December 2023) indicate there were an estimated 5,206 people in Scotland currently diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B and potentially a further 4,000 people living in Scotland who remain undiagnosed. Based on the latest PHS hepatitis C report, just under 2,700 people are estimated to be diagnosed and living with chronic HCV infection in Scotland by March 2025. Our previous report estimated there were between 5,100 and 8,600 people living with HCV in Scotland including diagnosed and undiagnosed. There is currently no update to this in our most recent report, however it’s likely to be lower than this figure.
Lack of awareness of symptoms, stigma and misinformation prevent people from accessing services.
Targets for eliminating viral hepatitis
In 2022 the World Health Organization (WHO) outlined clear targets for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health problem and Scotland is making good progress towards these.
NHS Scotland is working with the third sector, alcohol and drug services, prison services and people affected by hepatitis to reduce hospital admissions and deaths and to prevent new infections. They are also working to increase testing and diagnosis among people in prisons and those with a history of drug use and to reduce stigma to make it easier for people to access and complete testing.
By March 2025, 85% of people last known to have chronic HCV infection had been treated and cleared of infection. HCV related mortality is well below the WHO threshold for elimination. What’s more, coverage of effective treatment and prevention for people who inject opioids is well above the WHO threshold.
But to achieve and sustain elimination, all this needs to scale up and to do this there are four key goals that are supported globally by the World Hepatitis Alliance:
- Providing the knowledge and understanding everybody needs to make informed choices about hepatitis testing, treatment and vaccination
- For decision makers to become advocates, providing the resources needed to improve the lives of affected communities
- An end to stigma for people living with hepatitis, ensuring nobody is left behind
- That everyone sees hepatitis elimination as not only possible, but achievable
Support and resources
Find out more about the risk factors and how to get tested for hepatitis B and C on NHS Inform:
More information about World Hepatitis Day and further support resources are available on the World Hepatitis Alliance website
Read our recent update reports:
Public Health Scotland (2025). Surveillance of hepatitis B in Scotland, 2023 update