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World Hepatitis Day sparks testing drives in Croatia and Bosnia
World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, its transmission routes, and the importance of early testing and treatment. The disease remains a major public‑health challenge because most infected individuals are asymptomatic.
In Croatia, infectious‑disease specialist Dr Lorena Đapo of Karlovac General Hospital warned that many citizens are still uninformed about hepatitis. She noted that about 300 million people worldwide live with viral hepatitis, with hepatitis B and C capable of becoming chronic. While antiviral therapy for hepatitis B often requires lifelong treatment, hepatitis C can be cured in more than 95 % of cases. Nationally, the campaign is coordinated by the Croatian HIV and Hepatitis Association (HUHIV) with support from the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute of Public Health and the City of Zagreb. Official statistics show 1 386 deaths from liver disease in 2024, including 480 from liver cancer.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Cantonal Hospital "Dr Irfan Ljubijankić" in Bihać organized a free‑testing stand for hepatitis B and C at a city market on July 28, 2026. Health workers provided counseling and screened a large number of residents, underscoring growing public interest in preventive health checks.
Entities
Cantonal Hospital Dr Irfan Ljubijankić (Bihać) · Croatian HIV and Hepatitis Association (HUHIV) · Croatian Ministry of Health · Lorena Đapo · World Hepatitis Day
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] World Hepatitis Day is observed on July 28. trend.com.hr · ordinacija.vecernji.hr · www.vijesti.ba
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Croatia's national hepatitis campaign is led by HUHIV with support from the Ministry of Health, the Croatian Institute of Public Health, and the City of Zagreb. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In Croatia, 1,386 deaths from liver disease were recorded in 2024, including 480 from liver cancer. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Viral hepatitis causes about 2 million deaths worldwide each year, roughly one in 25 deaths. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Nine out of ten people infected with viral hepatitis are unaware of their infection. ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hepatitis C can be cured in more than 95 % of patients using antiviral drugs. trend.com.hr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Around 300 million people worldwide are infected with viral hepatitis. trend.com.hr · ordinacija.vecernji.hr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Cantonal Hospital “Dr Irfan Ljubijankić” in Bihać offered free testing for hepatitis B and C on July 28, 2026. www.vijesti.ba