5 reasons to follow the MOOC Viral Hepatitis

Despite an effective vaccine against hepatitis B and a highly effective treatment of hepatitis C which leads to virological cure in more than 95% of cases, viral hepatitis remains, the second leading cause of death by infectious disease in the world, just after tuberculosis. A high mortality rate is mainly observed in hepatitis B, B-Delta and C, while hepatitis A and E are most often benign except in certain populations. The mortality rate from hepatitis B and B-D is sometimes linked to fulminant hepatic failure at the early acute phase, but mortality from hepatitis B, B-D and C is more often related to chronic progression towards fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Here are 5 important reasons to take this course:

1 - To learn the specific features of the 5 hepatitis viruses and the pathophysiology of hepatitis. 

Their structure is very different: viruses A, C, D, and E have an RNA genome, while virus B has a DNA genome.

2 - To know more about specific biological tests of the different types of hepatitis, enabling them to be diagnosed, screened, and monitored. 

Those tests are particularly useful to follow the response to treatment of hepatitis B and C.

3 - To understand that the management of hepatitis is not yet well organized

The high frequency of Hepatitis B is related to the lack of vaccination particularly in pregnant women in developing countries.  The high mortality rate of hepatitis is mainly related to the lack of large-scale screening and therefore of treatment, and of vaccination.

4 - To learn about the new treatments of hepatitis B and C

Direct antiviral agents allow the cure of 95% of hepatitis C. New treatments (tenofovir or entecavir) allow negativation of HBV markers in most all patients with chronic hepatitis B. Measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus, and vaccination of newborn babies at birth are not yet sufficiently applied.

5 - To find out about the targets set by the WHO.

The goal is a 90% incidence decrease, and a 65% mortality decrease in 2030 as compared to 2015 to overcome viral hepatitis.

To register and find out more, click here.

Institut Pasteur

Enrollment : From January 8, 2026 to March 9, 2027
Course : From March 10, 2026 to March 9, 2027

This training is part of the Digital Diploma in Infectious Diseases of the Institut Pasteur (DNM2IP).