**Fewer Viral Hepatitis Deaths in Cyprus Than EU Average**
In a recent report released by Eurostat, it has been revealed that Cyprus has recorded significantly lower rates of deaths due to viral hepatitis compared to the European Union average for the year 2023. The data indicates that viral hepatitis accounted for only 0.21 deaths per 100,000 people in Cyprus, while the EU average stood at 0.64 deaths per 100,000.
The report highlights a concerning trend in several EU member states, with Italy recording the highest death rate from viral hepatitis at 1.62 deaths per 100,000 people. Latvia followed closely with 1.54 deaths, and Austria reported 1.02 deaths per 100,000. In contrast, some countries exhibited notably lower rates, with Luxembourg reporting no deaths from hepatitis in 2023. Finland and Slovenia also had low death rates, at 0.07 and 0.13 per 100,000 people, respectively.
The overall statistics for the EU show a positive trend, with a total of 3,172 deaths attributed to viral hepatitis in 2023. This figure marks the lowest number of deaths recorded since data collection began in 2011, reflecting a 9.3% decrease from the previous year, when 3,499 deaths were reported. Moreover, there has been a significant decline of 53.7% since 2013, when the number of deaths reached 6,856.
The data also reveals that men are disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis, accounting for 58.3% of all related fatalities. The disease impacts both the elderly and the working-age population, with individuals under the age of 65 representing 35.7% of hepatitis-related deaths. This is notably higher compared to the 14.8% of deaths from all causes within the same age group.
Regionally, the report indicates that 15 areas across Europe experienced at least 1.5 deaths from viral hepatitis per 100,000 inhabitants. This includes ten regions in Italy, two in France, and one each in Austria, Romania, and Latvia. The French outermost regions of Mayotte and Guyane reported the highest death rates, with 4.86 and 2.80 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively. Southern Italy also showed high rates, particularly in regions such as Campania (2.65), Puglia (2.58), and Sardegna (2.48).
The release of this data coincided with World Hepatitis Day, observed annually on July 28. The day aims to raise awareness and promote action towards the prevention and treatment of viral hepatitis. In light of this, Cyprus's Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides addressed the public at a press conference organized by the liver patients’ association Promitheas on July 17. He emphasized that the national vaccination program has yielded positive results, positioning Cyprus among the better-performing countries in the EU regarding hepatitis prevention.
As the data suggests, while Cyprus has managed to maintain a lower death rate from viral hepatitis compared to the EU average, continued efforts in prevention and treatment remain essential to further reduce these figures and protect public health.