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Study links 2.3 million 2024 cancer cases to preventable infections

A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the WHO's cancer agency, estimates that about 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024, roughly one in eight, were linked to infections. Outlets stress that many could be prevented by vaccines and treatment.

4 outlets · 0L · 1C · 3R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 3). New coverage since the last version from New York Post.

Image: Daily Mail
Image: France 24
Image: New York Post

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The story, neutrally told

A study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that about 2.3 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2024, around 12% of the total, were caused by infections. The Daily Mail reports that this was out of 19.2 million new cases, and that the findings were published in The Lancet Oncology. According to the Daily Mail, most of the cases were connected to five infections: Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B and C, and Epstein-Barr virus.

H. pylori was the largest single cause, at around 760,000 cases, most of them stomach cancers. Low- and middle-income countries accounted for around 77% of infection-related cases, and Eastern Asia had the most, at 990,000. The study's authors said prevention strategies such as HPV vaccination, safe injection practice and treatment are often underused because of societal, financial and political barriers.

France 24 says the cancers could be prevented with treatment or vaccines, and the Daily Mail says many can be prevented through vaccination. The Telegraph goes further, saying almost all of the cases could have been prevented. The Daily Mail notes that progress on an H. pylori vaccine has been slow, that there is no approved hepatitis C vaccine, and that infection alone is unlikely to cause cancer, since genetics, health and diet also influence risk.

France 24 interviewed the study's lead author, Dr Gary Clifford of the IARC.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
A short broadcast item presenting the finding as a WHO agency result, with an interview of the lead author.
Emphasis
The IARC origin, the 12% share and prevention through treatment or vaccines.
Leaves out or plays down
Gives no breakdown by infection or region, and does not mention barriers to prevention.
For example
“One in eight cancers worldwide linked to infections, WHO agency says” — France 24

Right3 outlets

Framing
The Daily Mail gives a detailed, UK-oriented explainer covering the infections, regions and NHS advice. The Telegraph frames the study as showing that vaccines and antibiotics can beat some cancers.
Emphasis
Prevention through vaccines and antibiotics, the UK vaccination and screening context, and a link to a separate H. pylori and bowel cancer study.
Leaves out or plays down
The Telegraph's headline and lede do not mention the study's source or the barriers to prevention that the Daily Mail reports.
Charged language
“could be triggered by infections”“almost all of which could have been prevented”
For example
“One in eight cancers worldwide could be triggered by infections” — Daily Mail
“How vaccines and antibiotics can beat some cancers” — The Telegraph