What is the world's most deadly disease? It might not be what you think

Hepatitis kills more people than HIV, tuberculosis and HIV combined.

Despite all the attention we give to diseases like HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, it turns out viral hepatitis kills more people. The virus can be eradicated and the UN has a plan to accomplish the task, but politics are preventing the crisis from being solved.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- There are many killer diseases out there which claim millions of lives each year. One of the most dangerous killers is preventable and curable, yet it can't be stopped because of politics. That killer is viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver and a host of other health problems. It is a killer disease that ended 1.34 million lives in 2016. That's more deaths that HIV, tuberculosis and malaria combined. It is one of the top 10 killers in the world.

Unfortunately, hepatitis does not have the same public and political appeal as HIV and AIDS or malaria. Tuberculosis scares people much more.

Hepatitis comes in A, B, and C strains. Hepatitis C is the most common form of the disease, and a cure was discovered in 2014. Treatments also exist for the A and B strains. Hepatitis C is also the most deadly. However, people no longer have to die from the disease.

One of the reasons why hepatitis is so dangerous is it can take up to 15 years to show symptoms. It is also spreading rapidly because of the prevalence of intravenous drug use.

The disease can be eradicated, and the UN has a plan to do so by 2030, but it requires awareness and a global willingness to tackle the problem. So far, the UN reports no countries are "on track" to eradicating the disease by then.

Widespread public education, testing, and the cooperation of doctors is essential.

The World Health Organization is working to stage a summit on the disease in Sao Paulo, Brazil in November. The event will help governments know what they can do to eliminate the disease in their countries. So far, 950 people from around the world have agreed to attend.