KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that hepatitis B and C infections continue to affect thousands of people in Afghanistan, with an estimated 59,333 cases recorded in 2025.
In a statement marking World Hepatitis Day on July 28, the WHO described hepatitis as a major public health concern in the country and called for stronger efforts to prevent new infections through greater public awareness, expanded access to testing and treatment, and improved preventive measures.
The UN health agency said hepatitis B and C are mainly transmitted when blood or other bodily fluids from an infected person enter the body of another individual. Hepatitis B can also be passed from an infected mother to her child during childbirth.
The WHO did not provide the number of hepatitis cases in Afghanistan for 2026. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health has reported more than 27,800 positive cases of hepatitis B and C so far this year.
Speaking at an event in Kabul on Tuesday, Taliban Deputy Public Health Minister Mawlawi Abdul Wali Haqqani said factors including the return of migrants, economic difficulties, the shared use of syringes, unsafe surgical practices, and limited public awareness are contributing to the spread of the disease.
Hepatitis is a viral infection that affects the liver and is divided into five main types: hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. In Afghanistan, hepatitis B and C are commonly referred to as “black jaundice” because of their association with severe liver disease.
World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on July 28 to raise awareness about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hepatitis. The date commemorates the birthday of Dr. Baruch S. Blumberg, who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the hepatitis B virus and developing the first vaccine against the disease.
Afghanistan’s healthcare system has faced severe challenges since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. The collapse of the previous government, reductions in international aid, and Taliban restrictions, particularly those affecting women and girls, have contributed to shortages of medicines, medical equipment, and healthcare workers in many parts of the country.
The health crisis has been further worsened by rising poverty and food insecurity. The United Nations has warned that nearly 22 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance, including food, water, shelter, and healthcare support.
