Health
Infections caused one in eight global cancer cases in 2024, study finds
Around 2.3 million new cancer diagnoses stemmed from infections in 2024, according to Slashdot.
The short version
- A study published in The Lancet Oncology found that approximately 2.3 million cancer cases in 2024, or roughly one in eight, were attributable to infections.[Slashdot]
- Over three-quarters of these cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries, with Eastern Asia bearing the largest share at 990,000 cases.[Slashdot]
- The leading pathogens identified were Helicobacter pylori and human papillomavirus, contributing 760,000 and 750,000 cases respectively.[Slashdot]
- Medical experts noted that targeted infection control, vaccination, and treatment could prevent a significant share of these cancer cases.[Slashdot]
Key facts
- An estimated 2.3 million cancer cases globally in 2024 were linked to infections.[Slashdot]
- H. pylori and HPV were the leading causes, accounting for 760,000 and 750,000 cases respectively.[Slashdot]
- More than 75% of infection-related cancer cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries.[Slashdot]
- Eastern Asia accounted for 42% of the global burden, totaling 990,000 cases.[Slashdot]
What remains uncertain
- The findings rely on statistical estimates from study models rather than direct global counts of all individual cancer cases.[Slashdot]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.