At the 2024 Asian Pacific Conference for the Study of Liver Disease (APASL) in Kyoto, Japan, WHO unveiled its latest guidelines aimed at preventing, diagnosing, and treating chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection. With over 250 million individuals living with chronic HBV worldwide and increasing death rates annually, these guidelines represent a significant step towards addressing the global burden of the disease.

The new guidelines offer simplified criteria for treatment eligibility, particularly focusing on adults and adolescents, and advocate for expanded antiviral prophylaxis for pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of enhancing HBV diagnostics through point-of-care viral load testing and addressing coinfections, such as hepatitis delta, which contribute significantly to HBV-related morbidity and mortality.

Despite progress in eliminating mother-to-child transmission through universal infant HBV immunization, coverage for the hepatitis B birth dose remains low globally, especially in the WHO African Region. The guidelines prioritize closing these gaps and improving access to testing and treatment for those affected by CHB infection.

Drawing from evidence-based recommendations, the guidelines build upon previous WHO guidelines on hepatitis B care and treatment, offering updated strategies to promote adherence to long-term antiviral therapy and retention in care. With a comprehensive approach encompassing expanded treatment eligibility, alternative therapy regimens, and improved diagnostic methods, these guidelines mark a crucial milestone in the global effort to combat HBV infection and its associated complications.