Dhaka, Nov. 9 -- Around 12 percent of the world's total cancer cases in 2024 were caused by infections, according to major new research from the World Health Organisation, reports the BBC.

The study, published in The Lancet Oncology, linked 2.3 million new cancer diagnoses to infectious agents.

Just five main pathogens accounted for the vast majority of these cases: Helicobacter pylori (4 percent), human papillomavirus or HPV (4 percent), hepatitis B (2 percent), Epstein-Barr virus (1 percent), and hepatitis C (under 1 percent).

Together, these organisms trigger more than 20 different forms of disease, including stomach, liver, blood, and cervical cancers, the study said.

Viruses cause malignancy by inserting viral DNA into host cells...