Approximately 2.3 million people are living with Hepatitis C and between 850,000 and 2.2 million people are living with Hepatitis B in the U.S.
Every year, HepVu joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health organizations in recognizing May 19 as Hepatitis Testing Day. Hepatitis Testing Day serves as an important opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of testing for viral hepatitis. Though millions of Americans have chronic viral hepatitis, many are unaware of their status. CDC recommends testing for populations with risk factors for infection, including (but not limited to):
- Hepatitis A – All children at 1 year of age, men who have sex with men (MSM), and travelers to countries where Hepatitis A is common.
- Hepatitis B – Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; people born in Asia, Africa, and other regions with moderate or high rates of Hepatitis B; MSM; anyone with a history of injection drug use.
- Hepatitis C – Baby Boomers (persons born between 1945 and 1965), people living with HIV, anyone with a history of injection drug use.
Take CDC’s Hepatitis Risk Assessment to see if you should be tested for viral hepatitis.
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Hepatitis is an inflammation in the liver, often caused by a virus. The three most common types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, each with a range of serious consequences, including liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Unfortunately, Hepatitis C continues to affect millions in the U.S., with rates of infection rising among young people (ages 18-29) likely due to increased injection drug use as a result of the opioid epidemic. This trend highlights the urgency of getting tested and being #HepAware.
Testing can aid in early detection, prevention, and treatment of viral hepatitis. What you can do:
- Understand Hepatitis C where you live by examining HepVu’s maps, which visualize Hepatitis C infection, opioid indicators and social determinants of health at the state level.
- Share the above infographics on your social networks to be #HepAware19 and encourage others to do the same.
- Learn the Hepatitis ABC’s, visit CDC’s Hepatitis Testing Day website, and watch CDC’s 60-second video, “Facing the Facts about Hepatitis C,” to hear about the importance of testing straight from Baby Boomers.
- Download our infographics in both English and Spanish.
