Europe is unlikely to meet its target of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 despite years of progress in prevention and treatment, according to a new assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
The agency said improvements in vaccination, screening and treatment have reduced infections over the past two decades, but persistent gaps in childhood immunization and prevention programs continue to slow progress across the region.
“No one should die from a disease that is preventable, diagnosable and treatable, yet millions of Europeans are living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, often without knowing it, which can lead to severe long-term consequences such as liver failure or liver cancer,” said Bruno Ciancio, Head of Unit for Directly Transmitted and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases at the ECDC.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are viral infections spread through infected blood or bodily fluids. Both diseases are major causes of chronic liver disease and can result in serious complications, including liver failure and cancer if left untreated.
According to the ECDC, an estimated five million people across Europe are living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, while around 60,000 people die each year from liver diseases linked to the viruses.
Health officials noted that acute hepatitis B infections have steadily declined since 2006, reflecting the success of long-term vaccination campaigns and public health measures. Among people under the age of 25, the share of acute hepatitis B cases dropped from 11 percent in 2015 to 8 percent in 2024, demonstrating the positive impact of childhood immunization programs.
The report also highlighted progress in preventing transmission from mothers to newborns. Routine hepatitis B screening during pregnancy is now established across all 30 European Union and European Economic Area countries, helping reduce mother-to-child transmission to below 2 percent.
Despite these gains, the ECDC said vaccination coverage remains below international targets in many countries. Only a limited number of nations have achieved the World Health Organization’s goal of fully vaccinating 95 percent of children against hepatitis B, while some countries have reported declining immunization rates in recent years.
The agency also identified shortcomings in efforts to prevent hepatitis C among people who inject drugs. Measures such as opioid agonist treatment and the distribution of sterile needles and syringes have proven effective in reducing transmission, yet only seven countries currently meet the WHO target for providing sterile injection equipment.
Ciancio said the tools needed to control hepatitis already exist, including vaccination against hepatitis B, early testing, infection control measures and treatments that can cure hepatitis C and manage hepatitis B. He stressed that the challenge is ensuring these services are available to everyone who needs them.
The ECDC also pointed to shortcomings in monitoring prevention efforts aimed at reducing sexually transmitted hepatitis infections. While sexual transmission remains a significant route for hepatitis B and hepatitis C is commonly associated with injecting drug use and sex between men, the agency said targeted prevention programs are not being systematically tracked across European countries.
The findings suggest that stronger vaccination efforts, expanded harm reduction services and broader access to testing and treatment will be needed if Europe hopes to move closer to its hepatitis elimination goals in the coming years.
