General information only. This Parent Resource summarizes WHO hepatitis B information.
What is hepatitis B?
WHO describes hepatitis B as a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause acute or chronic disease.
How can infection occur in early life?
WHO states that hepatitis B is commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery and can also spread during early childhood.
Why does infection in early childhood matter?
WHO reports that infection acquired in infancy and early childhood is much more likely to become chronic than infection acquired in adulthood.
What does WHO’s 2026 report say about children under five?
The Global Hepatitis Report 2026 estimates global chronic hepatitis B prevalence among children under five at 0.6% in 2024, down from 0.8% in 2015 but still above the 2030 target of 0.1%.
Can hepatitis B be prevented?
WHO identifies vaccination as an effective prevention tool and tracks birth-dose and childhood vaccination as part of global elimination efforts.
References
- World Health Organization. Hepatitis B, 10 June 2026.
- World Health Organization. Global hepatitis report 2026, 28 April 2026.