May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month in the United States, providing 31 days to raise awareness of viral hepatitis in the United States. During May, agencies and offices across the federal government as well as state and local partners work to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination for hepatitis A and B, testing for hepatitis B and C, the availability of effective care and curative treatment, and the serious health consequences resulting from undiagnosed and untreated viral hepatitis.
The month-long observance includes Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19th. These observances are important opportunities to raise widespread awareness of viral hepatitis and its impact in the U.S. and expand our coordinated national efforts to improve the health of the estimated 862,000 people living with hepatitis B and 2.4 million people living with hepatitis C.