Search Media Items

July 28, 2014, marks the 4th annual World Hepatitis Day. Nearly 400 million persons are living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and more than 1 million die annually as a result of their infection. This year, the 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) reaffirmed the global commitment to prevent and control viral hepatitis through the passage of resolution WHA 67.

Ibironke W. Apata, MD1,2, Francisco Averhoff, MD3, John Pitman, MS, MPH2, Adam Bjork, PhD2, Junping Yu4, Noryati Abu Amin, MBBCh, MD4, Neelam Dhingra, MBBS, MD4, Amy Kolwaite, MS, MPH3, Anthony Marfin, MD2 (Authors affiliations at end of text).

For Hepatitis Awareness Month and national Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19th, learn more about the different types of viral hepatitis. Find out if you should get tested or vaccinated by taking a quick, online Hepatitis Risk Assessment.

In the United States, May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is National Hepatitis Testing Day. Although care and treatment can be life-saving, many of the estimated 800,000 to 1.4 million persons living with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the estimated 3 million persons living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are unaware of their infection and are not receiving necessary care and treatment (1).

Kiren Mitruka, MD1, Karla Thornton, MD2, Susanne Cusick3, Christina Orme3, Ann Moore4, Richard A. Manch, MD4, Terry Box, MD3, Christie Carroll2, Deborah Holtzman, PhD1, John W. Ward, MD1 (Author affiliations at end of text).

Geoff A. Beckett, MPH1, Gilberto Ramirez, MBA1, Aaron Vanderhoff2, Kim Nichols, ScM2, Sara M. Chute, MPP3, David L.

Lauren J. Stockman, MPH1, Sheila M. Guilfoyle1, Andrea L.

About 3 million Americans have hepatitis C, most are baby boomers or people born from 1945-1965. Baby boomers are 5 times more likely to have hepatitis C. If you were born during these years, talk to your doctor about getting tested.

Know Hepatitis. Act Now. For World Hepatitis Day, learn more about the different types of viral that impact millions worldwide, and what you can do.

CDC’s online Hepatitis Risk Assessment takes less than five minutes and provides personalized viral hepatitis testing and vaccination recommendations