Hepatitis Awareness Month

"Hepatitis" is a general term that means "inflammation of the liver." The inflammation can be caused by viruses, bacteria, certain medicines, alcohol, poisons, or other medical conditions. There are several viruses that infect the liver to cause viral hepatitis; for example, hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes the disease, hepatitis B. In a recent publication ( 28 pages / 551 KB), CDC chronicles public health measures to vaccinate and protect children from hepatitis B virus infection and to monitor the characteristics of persons with chronic hepatitis B.

Worldwide, 370 million persons have chronic HBV infection, and 500,000�0,000 persons die annually from HBV-related liver disease; approximately 75% of HBV infections occur in Asia (World Health Organization, unpublished data, 2006). In the United States, approximately half of the 1 million persons with chronic HBV infection are Asians/Pacific Islanders, most of whom became infected with HBV before arriving in the United States, including many who remain unaware of their infection¹. The HBV-related death rate among Asians/Pacific Islanders is seven times greater than the rate among whites (CDC, unpublished data, 2007).

Persons with chronic HBV infection are at risk for premature death from liver cirrhosis and cancer. Hepatitis B vaccination of infants worldwide will protect successive generations from chronic HBV infection and associated liver disease. Persons already infected with HBV can benefit from HBV screening, care, and treatment to protect their health and prevent transmission to others.

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Screening for chronic Hepatitis B among Asian/Pacific Islander populations — New York City, 2005. MMWR Weekly. 2006:55(18);505� Available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5518a2.htm

More information and resources on hepatitis B

• Prevent Hepatitis B: Get Vaccinated ( 2 pages / 1.04 MB)
• Living with Chronic Hepatitis B ( 2 pages / 485 KB)
• Protect Your Baby for Life from Hepatitis B ( 2 pages / 2.96 MB)

Learn about the most common viral hepatitis infections in the United States

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Hepatitis A can affect anyone. In the United States, hepatitis A can occur in situations ranging from isolated cases of disease to widespread epidemics.

Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is found in the blood of persons who have the disease. HCV is spread by contact with the blood of an infected person.