Infections Caused 2.3 Million Cancer Cases Globally In 2024
A 2024 study found infections caused 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide, with HPV and H. Pylori each linked to roughly 750,000 cases.
Infections caused over 2.3 million new cancer cases globally in 2024. This figure represents 12% of all new cancer diagnoses worldwide, according to a major new study. The research highlights the significant, and often preventable, burden of cancers linked to viruses, bacteria, and parasites.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) and Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) were the leading infectious drivers. Each pathogen was responsible for approximately three-quarters of a million new cancer cases last year.
| Infectious Agent | Estimated Cancer Cases (2024) |
|---|---|
| Human papillomavirus (HPV) | 750,000 |
| Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) | 760,000 |
Top infectious drivers of cancer
HPV was linked to 750,000 new cancer cases. H. Pylori was responsible for around 760,000 cases, accounting for 4% of the global cancer total. These two agents alone drove the vast majority of infection-attributable cancers.
Cancer types and regional impact
HPV causes almost all cervical cancers, which numbered 600,000 of its attributable cases. The virus also causes cancers of the throat, anus, vulva, penis, and vagina. H. Pylori was primarily linked to non-cardia gastric cancers, with 700,000 of its cases falling into this category.
The geographic burden was not evenly distributed. Eastern Asia accounted for 42% of all infection-attributable cancers in 2024. In this region, H. Pylori and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections were behind a majority of cases. Sub-Saharan Africa was responsible for 25% of the global burden. There, HPV was the biggest cause of infection-attributable cancers.
Prevention and limitations
Most of the leading infectious causes of cancer have highly effective prevention measures available. This includes vaccines for HPV and HBV, as well as antibiotic treatments for H. Pylori. The study did have limitations. Researchers noted the lack of sex-specific data, which may overlook important gender-related differences in how these infections lead to cancer.
Harriet Rumgay, a lead researcher on the study, emphasized the path forward. "Our findings underscore the importance of accelerating control of infectious agents to achieve cancer prevention goals," she said. She also highlighted a key research priority, stating, "A major priority is the development of vaccines against EBV, which causes several cancers and has also been linked to multiple sclerosis." Accelerating control through vaccination, screening, and treatment is now a critical global health target.
