China has become the country with the world's largest population of hepatitis B patients, said an official with the country's Hepatitis Prevention Foundation Sunday.

Wang Zhao, head of the foundation, said that nearly 500,000 Chinese are killed every year by liver damage and hepatocirrhosis triggered by chronical hepatitis B.

He pointed out that about 120 million Chinese have positive reaction for hepatitis, which has become a severe public health problem in the country.

His foundation and Novartis pharmaceutical company are working together in pushing forward education project on hepatitis prevention, including 120 lectures covering major cities.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2007)