World Hepatitis Day
WHO observance
WHO observance
This authority record treats the observance as a fixed annual date. The same month and day can be reused unless a stronger source changes the rule. Public-holiday or government status is never inferred from the observance name alone.
Overview
World Hepatitis Day is observed on 28 July under the World Health Organization to increase awareness of viral hepatitis and strengthen action on prevention, testing, care and treatment.
The observance addresses a group of viral infections that affect the liver. Because the viruses, transmission routes, prevention options and treatments differ, responsible content should avoid presenting “hepatitis” as one uniform condition.
Why it matters
Awareness matters because viral hepatitis can go undiagnosed, but a general observance page cannot determine whether someone is infected or what testing or treatment they need.
People with health concerns should use current medical guidance and qualified health services; public pages should focus on accurate awareness and reducing stigma.
History
The World Hepatitis Alliance records 19 May 2008 as the first community-led World Hepatitis Day. That advocacy phase predates the official WHO observance and is preserved as a precursor rather than treated as a former official WHO date.
World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.18, adopted on 21 May 2010, designated 28 July as World Hepatitis Day. WHO records 28 July 2011 as the first official World Hepatitis Day under that framework.
The 28 July date is the birthday of scientist Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the hepatitis B virus and contributed to the development of diagnostic testing and vaccination.
How the observance developed
This timeline is assembled only from verified provenance fields. Missing stages are omitted rather than inferred.
Community-led World Hepatitis Day
The World Hepatitis Alliance-led community observance preceded the 2010 World Health Assembly designation of 28 July and the first official WHO World Hepatitis Day on 28 July 2011.
World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.18
First documented observance
WHO records describe 28 July 2011 as the first official World Hepatitis Day following the 2010 World Health Assembly resolution.
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO operates the annual World Hepatitis Day campaign and publishes campaign materials and calls to action.
What the evidence establishes
Verified institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Fields that the reviewed sources do not establish remain fail-closed and are available below without competing with the confirmed record.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Ways to observe
Use WHO or national health-service information to learn the differences among viral hepatitis types.
Promote testing and vaccination information only where supported by current health-authority guidance.
Challenge stigma by using neutral, medically accurate language about infection and care.
If organizing a workplace or community activity, involve qualified health professionals rather than offering informal medical screening advice.
Useful facts
World Hepatitis Day is officially observed on 28 July.
The World Hepatitis Alliance records a community-led World Hepatitis Day on 19 May 2008 before the WHO designation.
World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.18 designated 28 July as World Hepatitis Day in 2010.
WHO records 28 July 2011 as the first official World Hepatitis Day.
The date is the birthday of Baruch Blumberg.
The 19 May community observance is treated as a precursor, not a former official WHO date.
Annual campaign statistics and themes need regular refreshing.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Repeated links from the authority record, institutional provenance and editorial guide research are consolidated here. Badges show how each source is used; a contextual source is never treated as proof of establishment on its own.
World Health Organization — first official World Hepatitis Day, 28 July 2011 (opens in a new tab)
World Health Organization — WHA63.18, Viral hepatitis (opens in a new tab)
World Health Organization — World Hepatitis Day (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
World Hepatitis Alliance — Annual Report 2017 / ten-year timeline (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then use reviewed distinctions and related authority records to understand where this observance fits.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Hepatitis Day?
28 July The stored recurrence guidance is: 28 July.
Does World Hepatitis Day fall on the same date every year?
The authority record classifies it as fixed annual, so its month and day are reusable unless stronger evidence changes the rule.
Is World Hepatitis Day an official public holiday?
The authority record verifies it within this scope: World Health Organization global health observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when the supporting authority record explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Hepatitis Day?
The reviewed provenance layer identifies World Health Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as World Health Organization (WHO).
Is World Hepatitis Day international or country-specific?
The record has international or global institutional scope: World Health Organization global health observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual layer is source-backed and keeps its date rule, scope, provenance and editorial guardrails attached to the authority record. This record was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is World Hepatitis Day on 28 July?
The date is the birthday of Baruch Blumberg, whose work included the discovery of the hepatitis B virus and major advances in diagnosis and vaccination.
Is viral hepatitis one disease?
No. Several different viruses can cause hepatitis, and their transmission, prevention and treatment differ.
Can this page tell me whether I need a hepatitis test?
No. Testing recommendations depend on medical and public-health guidance, so personal questions should be discussed with qualified health services.
Other observances on July 28
These records also resolve to July 28, 2027 under the current authority data.
Anniversary of the Fall of Fascism and Freedom Day
San Marino official holiday calendars list 28 July as the Anniversary of the Fall of Fascism and Freedom Day.
Día de las Instituciones de Cantabria
Government of Cantabria / Official Gazette of Cantabria
Independence Day
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade current National Days protocol register lists Peru — Independence Day on 28 July. The source verifies the diplomatic national-day identit…
National Milk Chocolate Day
Two Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals chapter calendars from different publication years list National Milk Chocolate Day on 28 July.
National Soccer Day
National Day Archives lists National Soccer Day on July 28; the record is retained at registry/date level because the page does not establish a statutory designation or creator.