Reported risk behaviors or exposures among reported cases* of acute Hepatitis C virus infection — United States, 2021
Source: CDC, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
* Reported confirmed cases. For the case definition, see Acute Hepatitis C.
† Reported cases may include more than one risk behavior/exposure. Case reports with at least one of the following risk behaviors/ exposures reported 6 weeks to 6 months prior to symptom onset or documented seroconversion if asymptomatic: 1) injection drug use; 2) multiple sexual partners; 3) underwent surgery; 4) men who have sex with men; 5) sexual contact with suspected/confirmed hepatitis C case; 6) sustained a percutaneous injury; 7) household contact with suspected/confirmed hepatitis C case; 8) occupational exposure to blood; 9) dialysis; and 10) transfusion.
§ A total of 3,348 acute hepatitis C cases were reported among males in 2021.
¶ Cases with more than one type of contact reported were categorized according to a hierarchy: (1) sexual contact; (2) household contact (nonsexual).
Health departments might conduct investigations of newly reported acute hepatitis C cases to ascertain risk behaviors and exposures associated with infection. However, investigations might not be possible for all cases if patients are lost to follow-up or if health departments lack adequate resources for investigating all cases reported in their jurisdiction.
Among risk behaviors and exposures identified for reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in 2021, injection drug use was most commonly reported (57% of the 1,449 cases for which injection drug use information was available). HCV transmission associated with surgery, dialysis, or transfusion is extremely rare in the United States; thus, the reporting of these exposures might represent a history of recent receipt of these health care procedures and do not necessarily indicate these procedures were associated with HCV transmission.
- Figure 3.1. Number of reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection and estimated infections — United States, 2014–2021
- Figure 3.2. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2020–2021
- Figure 3.3. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2021
- Figure 3.4. Rates* of reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by age group — United States, 2006–2021
- Figure 3.5. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by sex — United States, 2006–2021
- Figure 3.6. Rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by race/ethnicity — United States, 2006–2021
- Figure 3.7. Availability of information on risk behaviors or exposures associated with reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection — United States, 2021
- Figure 3.8. Number of newly reported chronic hepatitis C virus infection cases by sex and age — United States, 2021
- Figure 3.9. Rates of death with hepatitis C virus infection listed as a cause of death among residents, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2021
- Table 3.1. Numbers and rates of reported cases† of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2017–2021
- Table 3.2. Numbers and rates of reported cases† of acute hepatitis C virus infection, by demographic characteristics — United States, 2017–2021
- Table 3.3. Reported risk behaviors or exposures among reported cases of acute hepatitis C virus infection — United States, 2021
- Table 3.4. Number of newly reported cases of perinatal hepatitis C virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2021
- Table 3.5. Number and rate of newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis C virus infection, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2021
- Table 3.6. Number and rate of newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis C virus infection, by demographic characteristics — United States, 2021
- Table 3.7. Numbers and rates of deaths with hepatitis C listed as a cause of death among residents, by state or jurisdiction — United States, 2017–2021
- Table 3.8. Numbers and rates of deaths with hepatitis C virus infection listed as a cause of death among residents, by demographic characteristics — United States, 2017–2021