World Hepatitis Day, observed on July 28 every year, aims to raise global awareness of hepatitis — a group of infectious diseases known as hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E — and encourage prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Hepatitis affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, causing acute and chronic disease with approximately 1.34 million lives lost every year. Hepatitis can cause inflammation of the liver both acutely and chronically, and can be fatal. In some countries, hepatitis B is the most common cause of cirrhosis and may also cause liver cancer.