Mortality due to viral hepatitis in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010: new evidence of an urgent global public health priority demanding action.

The recently published Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) contains accurate, contemporary estimates of human morbidity and mortality, with substantial changes in the patterns of illness observed over the last two decades. One of the most significant alterations to these estimates has been the recognition that viral hepatitis is a leading cause of human mortality, with an estimated 1.29 million deaths worldwide in 2010. The global community must act to address emerging health priorities identified by GBD 2010, including the need to provide treatment and care to people living with viral hepatitis, especially in resource-poor settings.