On World Hepatitis Day, Hepatitis Australia is urging governments to step up the national response to hepatitis B to ensure that the quarter of a million Australians living with hepatitis B are not left behind.

lt is estimated that nearly half of the more than 213,000 people living with the virus remain undiagnosed and only around 5 per cent are currently receiving treatment.

"lt's tragic that so few people living with hepatitis B are being appropriately managed and treated, as it puts them at heightened risk of liver cancer," said Hepatitis Australia CEO, Helen Tyrrell. 

Associate Professor Benjamin Cowie from the Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity said, "While there is no cure as yet for hepatitis B, we can prevent serious liver damage and complications including liver cancer caused by hepatitis B infection, provided people can access appropriate monitoring and treatment.

"However, nearly one in two people don't yet know they are living with hepatitis B and over 80 per cent of Australians living with hepatitis B are not receiving the care they need.

"People sometimes think that if they have no symptoms then they don't need to see their doctor, but often symptoms of long term hepatitis B infection only appear when it's too late, when the liver is already severely damaged," he said.

"We therefore encourage everyone with hepatitis B to speak to their doctor and receive a regular liver check-up to protect themselves against serious liver disease," Associate Professor Cowie concluded.

Hepatitis Australia said that while Australia is leading the world in hepatitis C, there is more to do in hepatitis B.

"The tremendous gains made with hepatitis C show that where there is a will, there is a way," Ms Tyrell said. 

"Australia must accelerate efforts to vaccinate, monitor and treat hepatitis B as we work towards the global goal of eliminating viral hepatitis."