Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Hepatol. Nov 27, 2024; 16(11): 1361-1364
Published online Nov 27, 2024. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v16.i11.1361
Elimination of hepatitis B as a public health threat: Addressing the challenge and taking action
Lei Ma, Hui-Chun Xing
Lei Ma, Hui-Chun Xing, Center of Liver Diseases Division 3, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
Author contributions: Ma L contributed to wring this manuscript; Xing HC designed the overall concept and outline of the manuscript, review of all literatures, proofread and review the full text.
Supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2022YFC2304505 and No. 2021YFC2301801; the Beijing Municipal of Science and Technology Major Project, No. 20220383ky; and Capital’s Funds for Health Improvement and Research of China, No. 2024-1-2181.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Hui-Chun Xing, Doctor, MD, Chief Doctor, Professor, Center of Liver Diseases Division 3, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 8 Jingshun East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015, China. huichunxing@126.com
Received: August 5, 2024
Revised: September 30, 2024
Accepted: October 15, 2024
Published online: November 27, 2024
Processing time: 93 Days and 2.9 Hours
Abstract

Despite the significant efforts made in recent years, the latest data from the World Health Organization indicates that there are substantial challenges in achieving the elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by 2030. The article in the World Journal of Hepatology by Ismael et al highlighted the limited accessibility to screening and antiviral treatment for HBV infection in eastern Ethiopia. Therefore, the editorial comments on this article will focus on the current challenges and recent efforts in the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B, particularly emphasizing the expansion of screening and antiviral therapy, as well as feasible strategies to improve accessibility for HBV testing, antiviral therapy, and adherence enhancement.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Chronic hepatitis B; Cirrhosis; Treatment; Diagnosis

Core Tip: Currently, the rates of diagnosis and treatment are significantly low, particularly in resource-limited developing countries. Therefore, immediate action must be taken without any delay. In the expanding screening population, it is essential to prioritize hepatitis B surface antigen testing for all high-risk groups and utilize high sensitivity hepatitis B virus DNA testing to detect low-level viremia, which is associated with the prognosis of hepatitis B virus infection. Some patients in the indeterminate phase require immediate antiviral treatment. Reducing the cost and improving access to screening and treatment are also crucial, highlighting the need for collaboration between governments, healthcare organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. Integrating the delivery of care, prevention, and treatment for hepatitis B into existing health services can streamline testing, care, and treatment for hepatitis B.