Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus recorded 0.21 deaths from viral hepatitis per 100,000 people in 2023, compared with an EU average of 0.64, Eurostat data released on Tuesday showed. The figures were published in connection with World Hepatitis Day, observed annually on July 28.
EU trends
There were 3,172 deaths from viral hepatitis across the EU in 2023, the lowest number recorded since data collection began in 2011.
The total was 9.3 per cent lower than the 3,499 deaths recorded in 2022 and 53.7 per cent below the 6,856 deaths reported in 2013.
Men accounted for 58.3 per cent of viral hepatitis deaths. People aged under 65 represented 35.7 per cent of hepatitis-related fatalities, compared with 14.8 per cent of deaths from all causes.
National and regional rates
Italy recorded the highest national death rate, at 1.62 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Latvia with 1.54 and Austria with 1.02.
Luxembourg recorded no deaths from hepatitis in 2023, while Finland reported 0.07 deaths per 100,000 people and Slovenia 0.13.
Fifteen EU regions recorded at least 1.5 viral hepatitis deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, including 10 regions in Italy, two in France and one each in Austria, Romania and Latvia.
France’s outermost regions of Mayotte and Guyane recorded the highest rates, at 4.86 and 2.80 deaths per 100,000 people respectively. They were followed by Campania, Puglia and Sardegna in Italy, with rates of 2.65, 2.58 and 2.48.
Cyprus vaccination programme
Ahead of World Hepatitis Day, Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides addressed a July 17 press conference organised by the liver patients’ association Promitheas.
He said prevention through the national vaccination programme had produced positive results and placed Cyprus among the better-performing EU countries.