Hepatitis B Surveillance 2020
What is Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is uninfected.
This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or from the gestational parent to baby during pregnancy or at birth.
For some persons, hepatitis B is an acute, or short-term, illness; for others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health problems, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death.
Treatments are available, but no cure exists for hepatitis B. The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by being vaccinated.
Acute Hepatitis B
2,157
There were 2,157 new cases of acute hepatitis B reported during 2020
14,000
There were 14,000 estimated acute hepatitis B infections during 2020
Chronic Hepatitis B
11,635
There were 11,635 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis B during 2020
5
There were 5 newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B per 100,000 people during 2020
Acute Hepatitis B
During 2020, 44 states reported 2,157 acute hepatitis B cases resulting in an estimated 14,000 infections. After a decade of stable rates, the rate of acute hepatitis B abruptly decreased by 32% after 2019. This decrease may be related to fewer people seeking healthcare and being tested for hepatitis B during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hepatitis B Prevention
Hepatitis B vaccination prevents hepatitis B. Reported cases of acute hepatitis B decreased after CDC recommended routine child vaccination in 1991. The decrease continued until 2011, levelled off, and then declined again from 2019 through 2020 likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To decrease hepatitis B incidence, CDC published the 2022 universal hepatitis B adult vaccination recommendation calling for all people aged 19 through 59 years to receive hepatitis B vaccine whether they have risk factors or not.
Fast Facts about Acute Hepatitis B in 2020
The number of reported acute hepatitis B cases decreased 32% from 2019 through 2020
76% of all acute hepatitis B cases were persons aged 30-59 years
States in the Appalachian region have rates of acute hepatitis B higher than the US average
Rates of acute hepatitis B were highest among non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black persons
Chronic Hepatitis B
During 2020, a total of 11,635 newly identified cases of chronic hepatitis B were reported to CDC, corresponding to a rate of 5.0 cases per 100,000 people.
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases among Asian/Pacific Islander persons (17.6 cases per 100,000 people) was almost 12 times the rate among non-Hispanic White persons (1.5 cases per 100,000 people).
Fast Facts about Chronic Hepatitis B in 2020
During 2020, the rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B was almost 12x higher among Asian/Pacific Islander persons than among non-Hispanic White persons
88% of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases occurred in persons 30 years and older
Hepatitis B Facts & Figures
- Figure 2.1. Number of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection and estimated infections — United States, 2013-2020
- Figure 2.2. Rates of reported acute hepatitis B virus infection†, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2019-2020
- Figure 2.3. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2020
- Figure 2.4. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection, by age group — United States, 2005-2020
- Figure 2.5. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection, by sex — United States, 2005-2020
- Figure 2.6. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection, by race/ethnicity — United States, 2005-2020
- Figure 2.7. Availability of information on risk behaviors or exposures associated with reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection — United States, 2020
- Figure 2.8. Rates of deaths with hepatitis B virus infection listed as a cause of death among residents, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2020
- Table 2.1. Numbers and rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2016-2020
- Table 2.2. Numbers and rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection, by demographic characteristics — United States 2016-2020
- Table 2.3. Reported risk behaviors or exposures among reported cases of acute hepatitis B virus infection — United States, 2020
- Table 2.4. Number of newly reported cases of perinatal hepatitis B virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2020
- Table 2.5. Number and rate of newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2020
- Table 2.6. Number and rate of newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B virus infection, by demographic characteristics — United States, 2020
- Table 2.7. Numbers and rates of deaths with hepatitis B virus infection listed as a cause of death among residents, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2016-2020
- Table 2.8. Numbers and rates of deaths with hepatitis B virus infections listed as a cause of death among residents, by demographic characteristics — United States, 2016-2020