The exact number of people carrying bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) globally is difficult to pinpoint, but some key figures give insight into the burden of major BBPs:
- An estimated 5 million people in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) are living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections. Of these, about 3.2 million have chronic hepatitis B and 1.8 million chronic hepatitis C. Most are unaware they are infected.
- Worldwide, approximately 360 million people have chronic infections with bloodborne viruses such as hepatitis B and C. Around 2 billion people have been infected with these viruses at some point.
- For specific BBPs commonly found in the US (HIV, HBV, HCV), millions are infected worldwide, for example, about 40.3 million people living with HIV.
- In occupational exposure contexts, approximately 18 million workers in the US healthcare industry and millions more in related fields are potentially at risk of exposure to BBPs.
Since BBPs are transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, many carriers remain undiagnosed, making it challenging to have precise numbers of people actively carrying these pathogens. In summary, millions globally carry major BBPs like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, with a significant portion unaware of their infection status. Efforts for improved testing and care linkage remain critical.
