Recent data indicate that there has been an increase in the rate of new hepatitis B infections in the U.S., which many largely attribute to increasing injection drug use. To address this, Hep B United and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) hosted a three-part webinar series on local strategies to eliminate hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections.
HBV is a significant and common health burden that chronically infects up to 2.2 million people in the U.S. and approximately 257 million people globally. Up to 25% of chronically infected individuals go on to develop serious conditions such as liver damage, cirrhosis, or liver cancer, and many die as a result of complications from liver disease. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine and treatments, barriers in HBV prevention persist.
The series discussed the current state of HBV in the U.S. and explored local health department efforts and model programs to increase HBV testing, vaccination, and linkage to care. Below are links to the webinar recordings and supplementary resources available.
