Skip Navigation LinksSkip Navigation Links
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Safer Healthier People
Blue White
Blue White
bottom curve
CDC Home Search Health Topics A-Z spacer spacer
spacer
Blue curve MMWR spacer
spacer
spacer


Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please send e-mail to: mmwrq@cdc.gov. Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail.

Notice to Readers: National Hepatitis Awareness Month and World Hepatitis Day --- May 19, 2009

May is National Hepatitis Awareness Month in the United States, and May 19 is World Hepatitis Day. Both events draw attention to the large but often underrecognized burden of disease and death associated with viral hepatitis and the importance of prevention and early detection. An estimated 4.5 million persons in the United States are living with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which together represent the major cause of chronic liver disease and liver cancer. In 2006, chronic viral hepatitis contributed to at least 15,000 deaths in the United States. Globally, hepatitis B and C also are health threats, killing approximately 1.5 million persons per year.

A comprehensive public heath approach comprising interventions to protect vulnerable populations from infection (e.g., vaccination and adoption of safe injection procedures) and timely screening and care for chronic HBV and HCV infection can reduce the health burden of viral hepatitis. Additional information about viral hepatitis is available at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis. Information about World Hepatitis Day activities is available at http://www.nvhr.org/WHD-2009.htm.

Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of the date of publication.

All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from typeset documents. This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr) and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable versions of official text, figures, and tables. An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800. Contact GPO for current prices.

**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to mmwrq@cdc.gov.

Date last reviewed: 5/14/2009

HOME  |  ABOUT MMWR  |  MMWR SEARCH  |  DOWNLOADS  |  RSSCONTACT
POLICY  |  DISCLAIMER  |  ACCESSIBILITY

Safer, Healthier People

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd, MailStop E-90, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A

USA.GovDHHS

Department of Health
and Human Services