Official expects WHO-China hep B prevention co-op

BEIJING - An official of the World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed his hope that the WHO will further cooperate with China in hepatitis B prevention and control.

Such cooperation may include vaccination for at-risk adults and better affordable anti-viral treatment for the needy, Dr. Michael O'Leary, WHO representative in China said on Sunday.

O'leary's comments came after a recent report by the organization on WHO members' efforts against viral hepatitis that acknowledged China's policies in this regard.

The report said China has brought down the infection rate of hepatitis B among children under five years old from a previous 10 percent to the current below 1 percent.

Free hepatitis B vaccinations have been available for all newborns in China since 2005 and another prevention project saw 68 million people under the age of 15 vaccinated from 2009 to 2011.