Hepatitis B C Ukraine: What You Need to Know

Let's be honest when you hear the word "hepatitis," it's hard not to feel a little knot in your stomach. It sounds serious. Scary, even. Maybe you're in Ukraine right now, trying to keep your family safe. Or maybe you're abroad, watching the news and wondering how a war so far away could affect something like public health.

Here's the thing: hepatitis B and C are very real concerns in Ukraine and not just for those directly involved in the conflict. We're talking about silent viruses. Most people who live with them don't know it. No fever. No pain. Just years of slow, invisible damage to the liver.

But here's what else is true: we know how to fight this.

In fact, a groundbreaking 2021 study the first of its kind in Ukraine gave us a clear, nationwide look at what's really happening. And while the numbers might surprise you, the message is hopeful: prevention, testing, and treatment are not only possible, they're already working even during war.

So let's pull up a chair, take a breath, and talk about this not as experts behind lab coats, but as people who care. Because you deserve to understand what's going on, what's at stake, and what you can do.

What We Know Now

Before 2021, when people talked about hepatitis in Ukraine, they were mostly guessing. Maybe they looked at hospital numbers in one city, or relied on old estimates. But then something powerful happened.

Researchers from Ukraine's Public Health Center and DILA Lab did something clever: they took blood samples collected during a nationwide SARS-CoV-2 immunity study and retested them for hepatitis B and C markers. This wasn't a small clinic in Kyiv. This was every region, adjusted for age, gender, and location. A true national picture.

The results, published in Eurosurveillance in mid-2025, were eye-opening according to a peer-reviewed study.

• 11.6% of adults had been exposed to hepatitis B (they had anti-HBc antibodies).
• 3.3% had signs of hepatitis C exposure.
• 0.9% were actively living with chronic hepatitis B.
• And among those with chronic HBV, a troubling 7.5% also had hepatitis D a "double hit" virus that makes liver disease much worse.

Let that sink in: about 1 in 9 adults in Ukraine has had contact with hepatitis B. That's not rare. That's widespread. And it means hundreds of thousands of people may be carrying a time bomb they don't even know about.

Who's most affected? Men, especially older ones. The numbers rise sharply in people over 60 likely because they grew up before vaccines were common. And regions like the south and east show higher rates, possibly due to a mix of older healthcare infrastructure and displacement.

But the kicker? So many of these infections could have been prevented. With a vaccine. With a simple shot.

How It Spreads

Let's talk about how hepatitis moves not to scare you, but to empower you. Because when you know the "how," you can stop it.

Hepatitis B or HBV is tough. It's about 30 times more contagious than HIV, and it can survive outside the body for days. That's scary, but here's the good news: it's also one of the most preventable viruses on the planet.

It spreads through blood and body fluids. So yes, unprotected sex, shared needles, or unsterilized tattoo equipment can pass it along. But one of the quietest and most preventable ways it spreads is from mother to baby at birth. The good news? If a newborn gets the HepB vaccine within 24 hours, the risk plummets.

Hepatitis C, on the other hand, travels mostly through blood. Think shared syringes, reused medical tools, or even that sketchy piercing booth at a festival. Unlike HBV, there's no vaccine for HCV which makes prevention and early detection even more crucial.

And here's where myths trip people up.

Myth	Reality
"You'll feel sick if you have hepatitis."	Most people feel fine for years. By the time symptoms appear, liver damage may already be advanced.
"Only drug users get it."	Anyone can be exposed especially babies born to infected moms or people needing frequent medical care.
"Treatment isn't possible during war."	Actually, modern HCV treatment takes just 812 weeks, has few side effects, and can be managed outside hospitals.
"The HepB vaccine isn't safe."	It's been used in over 1 billion people since 1982. It's safe, effective, and routine in more than 180 countries.

Bottom line? Hepatitis doesn't discriminate. But it is beatable.

Ukraine's Fight

Before 2022, Ukraine was actually making real progress. The hepatitis B vaccine has been part of the routine childhood schedule since 2002. By 2024, coverage reached 88% just shy of the WHO's 90% target. Treatment for HCV? Funded by the government, using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that cure over 95% of cases.

And here's something beautiful: family doctors not just specialists are now trained to manage hepatitis care. This "decentralized" model means you don't have to travel miles to a big hospital to get help.

But then the war came.

Hospitals were damaged. Labs shut down. Testing for HCV especially the core antigen test was disrupted. Over 8 million Ukrainians were displaced. Medical records lost. Treatments interrupted.

And in places like Zakarpattya, the cracks became gaps.

In a 2017 study, 0.7% of children tested positive for active hepatitis B above the WHO's 0.5% target for elimination. Why? Low birth-dose vaccination rates, high infection in pregnant women, and spotty infection control in clinics.

That region became a warning sign: stop the vaccine, and the virus comes roaring back.

What Works

So what can turn this around? Well, we already know the answers we just have to do them at scale.

First: test more. Many people are walking around with hepatitis and don't know it. Dried blood spot testing where a drop of blood is collected on filter paper is perfect for war zones. No refrigeration. No lab nearby. Just a simple, mail-in method that gives accurate results.

Second: protect every newborn. The first dose of the HepB vaccine should be given within 24 hours of birth. It's not a luxury. It's a lifeline. Yet coverage for this "birth dose" is still inconsistent especially in rural or conflict-affected areas.

Third: catch up. Millions of teens and young adults missed vaccines during past disruptions. School-based and mobile clinics can help close the gap safely and quickly.

Fourth: harm reduction. For people who use drugs, access to clean needles and opioid substitution therapy isn't just compassion it's prevention in action. These programs are proven to reduce HCV transmission dramatically.

And fifth: keep training doctors. When a family doctor in a small town knows how to diagnose and treat hepatitis, care becomes local, accessible, and human.

The WHO's 2030 goals are still within reach but only if support continues.

Goal	Ukraine's Progress
0.5% HBsAg in children	Most regions under target but Zakarpattya still high
90% HepB vaccination (3 doses)	88% in 2024 very close
90% timely birth dose	Improving, but not consistent
Eliminate HCV by 2030	Uncertain war impacted data and delivery

The war has definitely made things harder. But it hasn't made them hopeless.

What You Can Do

You don't need a medical degree to make a difference. Sometimes, the most powerful tool is a simple conversation.

If you're in Ukraine or supporting refugees here's how you can help:

• Get tested. Many clinics offer free hepatitis screening. No symptoms? Great but please, don't assume you're safe.
• Ask for the birth dose. If you're having a baby, speak up. You have the right to that first HepB shot within 24 hours.
• Never share personal items like razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers even with family.
• Support harm reduction. These programs save lives. They're not encouraging drug use they're stopping disease.
• Break the silence. Stigma keeps people from getting tested. Kindness and honesty break it.

And if you're outside Ukraine?

• Support organizations like Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) or the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, which are working on the ground.
• Advocate for continued funding. Global health isn't charity it's solidarity.
• Share what you've learned. Forward this article. Talk about it. Awareness is prevention.

Small actions, multiplied, create big change.

The Road Ahead

Let's be real: eliminating hepatitis by 2030 in Ukraine won't be easy. War, displacement, and broken systems have set things back. But the foundation is strong.

We have a vaccine. We have cures. We have data. And most importantly we have people who care: doctors working in bunkers, parents demanding protection for their children, neighbors sharing accurate info instead of fear.

The 2021 study didn't just give us numbers it gave us a map. A roadmap to find the gaps, target the highest-risk groups, and scale what works.

Yes, hepatitis B and C are still spreading in Ukraine. But so is hope.

So what's the takeaway? You don't have to wait for a hero. You can be part of the solution by getting tested, protecting your family, or simply caring enough to read this far.

Because here's the truth: silence helps the virus. Knowledge breaks its power.

So go ahead ask questions. Get informed. And if you know someone who needs to hear this, pass it on.

Together, we've already come further than you think.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.