A woman in her fifties has been spared the fate of her mother and grandmother after early detection and treatment of a liver tumour linked to hepatitis B virus infection. The woman, Ms Lam, who has carried the hepatitis B virus since her twenties, underwent regular health check-ups to manage the infection. However, routine screenings were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. When she returned for a check-up in 2024, doctors found a significant increase in her viral load and detected a liver tumour, despite her remaining asymptomatic. Early surgical intervention successfully removed the tumour, and she is now on medication with stable blood test results.
Health authorities are emphasizing the importance of early screening and management of hepatitis B on World Hepatitis Day. The virus is prevalent in the city, affecting approximately 5.6 percent of the population, or one in 20 people. Hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer—the third most deadly cancer locally—accounting for around 1,400 deaths annually.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a global goal to eliminate hepatitis B as a public health threat by 2030. This includes reducing new infections by 90 percent and hepatitis B-related deaths by 65 percent from 2015 levels. The WHO also aims for 90 percent of people living with chronic hepatitis B to be diagnosed, and 70 percent of those diagnosed to receive treatment.
Despite these targets, local statistics reveal that about 40 percent of the estimated 410,000 people living with chronic hepatitis B in the region are unaware of their infection, and 70 percent are not under consistent medical care.
A screening programme launched in February has tested around 33,000 individuals who meet specific risk criteria. Eligibility focuses on those born in or before 1988—prior to the introduction of universal childhood vaccination—and individuals with first-degree relatives or sexual partners known to carry the virus. Officials estimate that roughly 300,000 people in the city fall within these parameters.
Of those screened, approximately 3.2 percent tested positive in rapid district health centre tests. Follow-up blood tests confirmed infection in nearly all cases, with patients receiving ongoing monitoring to verify their diagnosis.
Dr Bonnie Wong Chun-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection stressed the importance of expanding awareness beyond the programme’s eligibility to encourage broader voluntary screening. She highlighted that while the programme is a critical step toward reaching the WHO goals, individuals outside the current criteria should seek testing proactively.
Specialist Dr James Fung Yan-yue noted that between 15 and 40 percent of chronic hepatitis B patients may develop severe liver complications, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. He explained that hepatitis B accounts for about 80 percent of local liver cancer cases and that symptoms often emerge only after serious liver damage has occurred. However, he added that with early detection and appropriate treatment, including antiviral medications and surgery, the disease is highly manageable.
“Those at higher risk or who suspect they may carry the virus should undergo screening promptly,” Dr Fung advised, underlining the critical role of early diagnosis in preventing severe outcomes.