Hepatitis C - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2024
Surveillance and monitoring
In 2024, 28 540 cases of hepatitis C were reported in 29 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries, corresponding to a crude rate of 7.1 cases per 100 000 population.
- Of all reported cases, 7% were acute, 41% chronic, and the remainder were reported as being at an undetermined stage of disease, or could not be classified.
- Hepatitis C was more commonly reported among men than women, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.9:1. The most affected age group among males was 35–44 years, and among females 45–54 years.
- The most common transmission mode was injecting drug use, which accounted for 48% of acute cases and 70% of chronic cases with complete information on transmission route.
- The majority (82%) of hepatitis C infections were locally acquired in the reporting country.
- Notification rates declined between 2015 and 2020, followed by an increase from 2021 onwards to levels higher than those observed before the COVID-19 pandemic. These trends probably reflect changes in testing, diagnosis and reporting practices rather than changes in the underlying incidence of infection.
- Differences in surveillance systems, testing policies and case definitions, together with low completeness for key variables, continue to limit comparability between countries and over time. Improvements in data quality are needed to better monitor progress towards hepatitis C elimination goals.
Publication file
Hepatitis C - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2024
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