May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the impact of viral hepatitis and promote prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Viral hepatitis remains a major public health threat in the United States, contributing to cirrhosis, liver cancer, transplants, and premature death for millions of Americans.
Fortunately, we have the tools to change this trajectory. Hepatitis A and B are vaccine-preventable. Proven effective community prevention strategies can prevent nearly half of hepatitis C infections. And curative treatment exists for hepatitis C, reducing both individual risk and community-level transmission. Hepatitis Awareness Month is a key opportunity to educate the public, healthcare providers, and the broader public health field—helping to reduce stigma and promote prevention, testing, and treatment.
The CDC recently released its 2023 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report and 2025 National Viral Hepatitis Progress Report, which characterize trends and provide insight into priorities for prevention and elimination. In 2023, the United States saw an estimated 3,300 hepatitis A (HAV) infections, 14,400 hepatitis B (HBV) infections, and 69,000 hepatitis C (HCV) infections. HAV cases declined by 28% compared to 2022, following extensive multi-state outbreaks between 2016 and 2019. HBV and HCV estimates have remained relatively stable since 2020. These trends point to the need for expanded prevention efforts, including HAV and HBV vaccination to prevent HBV and HCV.
Yet, significant gaps remain. Half of people living with chronic HCV and two-thirds of those with chronic HBV are unaware of their status. In 2023 alone, 1,769 HBV-related deaths and 11,194 HCV-related deaths were reported—highlighting the urgent need to increase access to testing, the critical first step in linking people to care and saving lives.
Local health departments (LHDs) are on the front lines of hepatitis prevention and elimination. They provide or connect individuals to vaccination, testing, treatment, and community-based prevention services, often in close coordination with community-based organizations and healthcare providers. But these efforts are persistently underfunded. To effectively reach populations disproportionately impacted by hepatitis, LHDs need sustainable support and strong local partnerships.
Because viral hepatitis intersects with other health issues—including HIV, STIs, and substance use disorder—elimination requires a syndemic approach. This means engaging a wide range of public health and healthcare partners to respond to these overlapping epidemics in coordinated, holistic ways.
This Hepatitis Awareness Month, we have a powerful opportunity to shine a light on viral hepatitis, mobilize action across sectors, and reaffirm our commitment to prevention, testing, and treatment. With sustained investment and cross-sector collaboration, eliminating viral hepatitis is within reach.