Brazil seeks validation of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B

The request, submitted on World Hepatitis Day, launches an international review process that could make Brazil one of the first countries in the Americas to officially validate this public health achievement.

Rio de Janeiro, July 29, 2026 (PAHO) - Brazil has submitted a dossier to the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) requesting validation of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B as a public health problem, a step that could make the country one of the first in the Americas to officially achieve this milestone.

The dossier was formally presented on July 28 during a ceremony attended by Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha; World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; and PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa.

The submission coincided with World Hepatitis Day, marked during the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) at an event organized by the Government of Brazil and WHO under the theme "Hepatitis: Let's Break Down the Barriers."

Brazil reported that it has met, for two consecutive years, the international criteria required to request validation of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. These include an estimated prevalence of active hepatitis B infection below the target threshold of 0.1% among children under five years of age, as well as coverage above 95% for antenatal care and over 90% for the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine.

"The Region of the Americas has shown that it is possible to protect new generations from hepatitis B through vaccination, strong maternal and child health services, and sustained commitment from countries," said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. "Brazil is well positioned to advance toward validation, and its experience can serve as an inspiration for other countries across the region."

The request will undergo an initial assessment by PAHO, followed by a review by an independent panel of experts and a final evaluation by WHO's Global Validation Advisory Committee, which determines whether countries meet the established validation criteria.

Validation of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission is part of a global effort to end the transmission of preventable infections from mothers to their children.

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and can lead to chronic disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Preventing mother-to-child transmission is especially important because infections acquired during infancy are far more likely to become chronic.

In the Americas, PAHO expanded this approach in 2017 through the ETMI Plus initiative, adding hepatitis B and Chagas disease to regional efforts to eliminate diseases that can be transmitted from mother to child.

WHO later formally incorporated hepatitis B into its global validation framework for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission as part of the "triple elimination" strategy targeting HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. To achieve validation, countries must demonstrate that infection has been reduced to extremely low levels among young children while maintaining high coverage of vaccination and antenatal care services.

In December 2025, Brazil became the largest country in the world to be validated by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The country is now pursuing the elimination of other infections transmitted from mother to child, including hepatitis B, as part of a broader public health strategy.

Regional progress toward elimination

Speaking at the World Hepatitis Day event, Dr. Barbosa highlighted the significant progress made across the Americas in reducing hepatitis B among children through decades of investment in immunization and stronger maternal and child health services.

He also noted that the Turks and Caicos Islands recently became the first territory in the Americas to be validated by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, demonstrating that countries can build on progress made against HIV and syphilis to reach new elimination goals.

"Today, the prevalence of hepatitis B among children under five in the Americas is well below the targets set for 2030," he said. "However, our work is far from over. Around 10 million people in the region are still living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and too many remain undiagnosed, untreated, or without timely access to quality services."

The PAHO Director also emphasized that lessons learned from the HIV response have shown how scientific evidence, political leadership, community engagement, and sustained investment can translate into tangible progress toward disease elimination.

"Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Guyana, and other countries are expanding access to testing and treatment, bringing services closer to communities, and integrating hepatitis care into primary health care," he said.

According to PAHO data, countries in the Americas procured more than US$574 million worth of hepatitis-related vaccines, diagnostics, and medicines through the Organization's pooled procurement mechanisms between 2018 and 2025, helping expand access to essential prevention and treatment technologies.

PAHO is working with countries across the Americas to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030 through its Elimination Initiative. Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease is part of this broader regional effort to ensure that future generations are born free from preventable infections.