2021 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report
Tens of thousands of people are newly infected with viral hepatitis every year in the United States. It is a serious public health threat that kills thousands of Americans annually and is a leading cause of liver cancer. Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are vaccine-preventable and hepatitis C can be cured. The Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report – United States, 2021 represents the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of viral hepatitis-related data. The surveillance process is essential to monitor trends that inform planning, implementation, and evaluation that are needed to reverse increasing current trends and improve viral hepatitis public health policy and practice.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver most often caused by a virus. In the United States, the most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. While each can produce similar symptoms, each hepatitis virus affects the liver differently, has different routes of transmission and infection, and typically affects different populations.
Fortunately, effective vaccines are available to help prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Although no vaccine is available for hepatitis C, life-saving treatment can cure the virus. Learn more about the different viral hepatitis types.
The findings in this report should be interpreted with caution. The number of viral hepatitis cases reported to CDC in 2020 and 2021 may be lower than in years before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The decrease may be related to fewer people seeking healthcare and being tested for viral hepatitis during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hepatitis A Cases Decreased During 2021
After annual increases during 2015–2019, the rate of hepatitis A decreased 43% from 2020 to 2021.
Acute Hepatitis B Cases Decreased During 2021
The rate of acute hepatitis B abruptly decreased during 2020 and again decreased by 14% from 2020 to 2021.
Acute Hepatitis C Cases Increased During 2021
The number of acute hepatitis C cases has doubled during 2014–2020, and the rate increased 7% from 2020 to 2021.
Variations of disease rates by race or ethnicity may reflect systemic cultural, behavioral, environmental, and social factors.
Rate of Chronic Hepatitis B Cases Is Highest in Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (API) Populations
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases among non-Hispanic API persons and non-Hispanic Black persons were 14.2 times and 4.1 times, respectively, the rate among non-Hispanic White persons.
Rate of Hepatitis B-Associated Deaths Is Highest in Non-Hispanic API Populations
The death rate for hepatitis B among non-Hispanic API and non-Hispanic Black persons were nearly 10 times and 2.6 times, respectively, the death rate among non-Hispanic White persons.
Acute Hepatitis C and Injection Drug Use as a Risk Factor
Injection drug use was the most commonly reported risk factor for persons with acute hepatitis C (57%) with risk information present.
Rate of Hepatitis C-Associated Deaths Is Highest in Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Non-Hispanic Black Persons
The death rates for hepatitis C among non-Hispanic AI/AN persons and non-Hispanic Black persons were 3.4 times and 1.7 times, respectively, the death rate among non-Hispanic White persons.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report – United States, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2021surveillance/index.htm. Published August, 2023. Accessed [date].