CDC viral hepatitis reports

April 3, 2024

Dear Colleague:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the 2022 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report today and will publish the 2024 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report tomorrow, April 4. The annual surveillance report represents the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of viral hepatitis-related data while the national progress report provides information on progress toward 2025 outcome goals for new viral hepatitis infections and viral hepatitis-related deaths, overall and for key populations. These reports contain hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C surveillance and mortality data that inform the Nation’s viral hepatitis response and monitor progress towards national elimination goals of reducing viral hepatitis infections and related mortality and disparities. Utilizing the data from these reports, the United States can better direct resources to areas and populations with the greatest need and optimize the implementation of proven tools and effective strategies to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat.

From 2021 to 2022, the number of newly reported cases of hepatitis A decreased 60%, marking a third straight year of declining cases. This decrease reflects successful state, territorial, and national efforts to respond to widespread and prolonged outbreaks associated with person-to-person transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) and people experiencing homelessness. During 2022, 14 out of 23 states declared an end to their outbreaks. Despite this success, the United States failed to reach the annual target for estimated hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections and had estimated cases 1.6 times as high as in 2015. Because many people remain susceptible to HAV infection, vaccination is essential to achieve our national hepatitis A goals and prevent future outbreaks.

After decreasing during 2020-2021, the rate of newly reported acute hepatitis B cases remained stable in 2022 and met the established target. Sustained declines in hepatitis B cases likely reflect longstanding successes associated with routine hepatitis B infant vaccination and improvements in vaccine coverage among those at risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus. The United States did not meet annual targets related to hepatitis B-related deaths, especially among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander people. To meet our goals, we need to expand access to hepatitis B vaccination, promote universal testing and simplified treatment criteria and ensure expanded access to hepatitis B care.

After more than a decade of annual increases, the rate of reported acute hepatitis C cases decreased for the first time in 2022. Prevention initiatives, such as syringe service programs (SSPs) and recent changes in drug use patterns, may have driven some of the overall decrease in hepatitis C observed in 2022. However, decreases in acute hepatitis C were not observed equally across all groups; rates continued to increase among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic people. CDC continues to invest in prevention strategies, including SSPs, to save lives and help communities fight viral hepatitis. Also, to ensure everyone—including the youngest among us—can be cured, in November 2023 CDC released recommendations for hepatitis C testing among perinatally exposed infants at age 2 to 6 months. We must increase efforts to get everyone with hepatitis C tested and cured.

The Nation can catalyze progress towards elimination goals by implementing viral hepatitis testing, vaccination, and treatment recommendations among adults and infants, and expanding access to harm reduction services for people who inject drugs. Although some trends are encouraging, we must continue to invest in and employ proven tools and effective strategies to prevent and treat viral hepatitis if we are to address disparities and eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat in the United States.

Thank you for your continued commitment to reaching our shared goals.

Read the 2022 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report
Read the 2024 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report (note: this report will publish on April 4 at 1pm ET)

Sincerely,

/Carolyn Wester/

Carolyn Wester, MD
Director
Division of Viral Hepatitis
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/

/Jonathan Mermin/

Jonathan Mermin, MD, MPH
Rear Admiral, USPHS (retired)
Director
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stay connected: @DrMerminCDC & Connections