WHO publishes first guidelines for hepatitis B treatment.

The special needs of specific populations, such as people co-infected with HIV, children and adolescents, and pregnant women are also considered. Existing recommendations for the prevention of HBV transmission from relevant WHO guidelines are also summarised in the newly published guidelines and include prevention of perinatal and early childhood HBV infection through infant hepatitis B vaccination; catch-up vaccination and other prevention strategies in key affected populations (people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, sex workers) as well as prevention of transmission in healthcare settings.