Prevalence of Viral Hepatitis

Hepatitis A

There are about 7000 cases per year in the UK.

Hepatitis B

It is estimated that 300 million people worldwide have long-term hepatitis B infection. The incidence is highest in the Far East and Africa.

Hepatitis C

It is estimated that in England and Wales between 200,000 - 500,000 people are infected with hepatitis C. The World Health Organisation estimates that over 170 million people are infected worldwide.

The hepatitis C virus was not identified until 1989.  Prior to the 1990s, routine screening for hepatitis C virus of blood for transfusion and blood products was not possible. People in the UK who underwent routine blood transfusion and those with haemophilia treated with blood products before this time, may have become infected.