GoKawiilWHO study: infections caused 2.3 million cancer cases globally in 2024
A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, published in The Lancet Oncology, estimates that infectious agents caused about 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024, or roughly one in eight of all cases. Helicobacter pylori bacteria accounted for the largest share at 760,000 stomach cancer cases, mostly in eastern Asia, followed by HPV with nearly 750,000 cases concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, and hepatitis B and C viruses linked to many liver cancer cases. Researchers also expanded their list of infection-linked cancers by 16 additional types.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The findings suggest that vaccination, screening and treatment for common infections could prevent a substantial share of cancers globally, particularly in lower-income regions where H. pylori and HPV are more prevalent. The geographic concentration of these cancers points to unequal access to preventive tools like HPV vaccines and hepatitis treatments as a likely contributing factor, according to the study's framing. Expanding the list of infection-linked cancers could also prompt renewed public health focus on infection control as a cancer-prevention strategy.
- Infections caused an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases globally in 2024, about 12% of all cases.
- H. pylori bacteria and HPV were the two largest infectious contributors, linked to stomach and cervical/other cancers respectively.
- Researchers expanded the list of infection-associated cancers by 16 additional types in this update.
Source: cbc.ca — Tashauna Reid, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “1 in 8 cancer cases worldwide are caused by infections, study finds”
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