Infections Linked to One in Eight New Cancer Cases Worldwide

Around one in eight new cancer cases worldwide is linked to an infection, according to a global study highlighting the role of viruses and bacteria in cancer risk.

The study linked 2.3 million cancer cases recorded in 2024 to infections. Five viral and bacterial causes accounted for most of that total.

The findings draw attention to infection as a factor in the global cancer burden. The headline figures provided do not identify the five infectious agents or give a breakdown of the cases linked to each.

Some of these infections can be prevented through vaccination or addressed with treatment, offering opportunities to reduce the number of cancers associated with them.

The study’s central message is that preventing and treating infections can also play a role in cancer prevention, although those measures cannot prevent every infection-linked case.