Other News

Dear Members,

The World Health Organization (WHO) has marked 28 July as “World Hepatitis Day” to promote public awareness on hepatitis. This year the Department of Health (DH) adopts “Managing hepatitis B for healthy living” as the theme to remind people with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to have regular examination and receive antiviral treatment and medical follow-up as instructed for disease management. DH also encourages public members with unknown infection and immune status of hepatitis B to consult family doctors for hepatitis B testing.

As derived from the results from the Thematic Report on Viral Hepatitis (Population Health Survey 2020-22) published by the DH late last year, about 5.6% of the Hong Kong population (~410,000 people) have hepatitis B. About 15 to 40% of untreated people with CHB could develop severe complications, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. The survey also revealed that nearly 40% of people with CHB were unaware of their infection status and about 70% did not have any medical follow-up for their liver diseases.


Early identification and management of people with CHB is one of the focus areas of the Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020 – 2024. For CHB treatment, there have been effective oral antivirals, which can reduce the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer. People with CHB should proactively seek medical consultation for hepatitis management, including having regular follow-up and examinations, as well as receiving treatment as instructed, in order to detect and manage changes in their liver condition early.

• CHP Facebook

- [Prevent the transmission of hepatitis B] (https://www.facebook.com/100064879620097/posts/886212970218016)

- [Managing hepatitis B for healthy living] (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/HRnbeQSmzEKXWFK4/?mibextid=WC7FNe)

• Thematic page of World Hepatitis Day
• Pamphlet on “Healthy living with chronic hepatitis B

• Video on “Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2020-2024” (https://youtu.be/VaHs-DZWXEM)

Health talk slides and roll-up banners are available for use/loan. For more health education materials on viral hepatitis, please fax or email the request form to us. Should you have any enquiries, please contact us at 2748 6753.

For more information about viral hepatitis, please visit our website: www.hepatitis.gov.hk.

Furthermore, a new issue of i-Continuing Education (iCE) on Viral Hepatitis - Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in Hong Kong is now available at the website of Viral Hepatitis Control Office: www.hepatitis.gov.hk/english/health_professionals/ice.html


iCE on Viral Hepatitis is an online self-study continuing education programme, aiming at providing a selection of free, regularly updated continuing education activities on viral hepatitis and related subjects for doctors, nurses, other health professionals and workers. Participants who have passed the assessment (7 out of 10 MCQ) within the validity period will be awarded 0.5 to 1 CME/ CPD / CNE point. Please submit the completed answer sheet by email to hepatitis@dh.gov.hk on or before 31 December 2025.


Thank you for your support in prevention and control of hepatitis B!


Best Regards,

Viral Hepatitis Control Office
Special Preventive Programme
Centre for Health Protection
Department of Health