Last week, CDC released two major reports—the 2023 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report and the 2025 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report—highlighting trends in hepatitis A, B, and C as well as national progress toward prevention and elimination goals. Together, the findings underscore that viral hepatitis remains a serious public health threat in the United States, and that stronger, more integrated strategies are needed to meet national goals for reducing infections, deaths, and health inequities.
Key Surveillance Findings
The 2023 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report shows continued declines in hepatitis A (HAV), with case counts 28% lower than in 2022—the fourth consecutive year of decline. This follows large-scale outbreaks that affected 37 states between 2016 and 2019, disproportionately impacting people who inject drugs and people experiencing homelessness. Despite progress, HAV outbreaks remain active in Maryland, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.
Rates of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) have remained relatively stable since 2020, with an estimated 14,400 new cases of HBV and 69,000 new cases of HCV in 2023. However, significant equities persist, threatening progress against HBV and HCV:
HBV rates were higher among males, people living in the Appalachian region, and those aged 40–59.
HCV rates were highest among males, people aged 30–39, and (non-Hispanic) American Indian/Alaska Native persons, who experienced rates 2.3 times higher than their white counterparts.
Injection drug use remains a major risk factor for both HBV and HCV—associated with 19% and 43% of cases, respectively. Other common risk factors for HBV include having multiple sexual partners and male-to-male sexual contact. Black Americans also experienced disproportionately high HBV rates—nearly twice as high as white Americans.
Uneven Progress Toward National Goals
The 2025 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report reveals that the U.S. met only five of ten national targets for hepatitis prevention and elimination. While targets for reducing HAV and HBV infections and reducing HCV deaths overall and among Black persons were met, targets for reducing HCV infections, reducing HBV deaths, and reducing HCV deaths among American Indian/Alaska Native persons were not met.
Addressing our national goals will require strategic and sustained investment in hepatitis programs and services. Local health departments (LHDs) are central to hepatitis prevention and elimination efforts. Most conduct surveillance and provide or link clients to vaccination, testing, treatment, and community-based substance use services. Yet, these critical efforts remain chronically underfunded.
To improve outcomes and advance equity, we must support comprehensive strategies that reflect the syndemic nature of viral hepatitis and its intersections with HIV, STIs, and substance use. Integrated approaches can help LHDs increase efficiency and more effectively reach communities disproportionately impacted by hepatitis. In addition to scaling up services, this includes investing in community-based substance use service programs, which not only prevent infections but also serve as vital entry points to vaccination, testing, and treatment.
As federal health agencies undergo restructuring, it is imperative that hepatitis services are not only preserved but fully integrated into broader efforts to address overlapping public health challenges. With the right investments and integration, the U.S. can make meaningful progress toward hepatitis elimination, while strengthening our response to intersecting public health crises.
