Key points
- After annual increases during 2015–2019, the rate of hepatitis A decreased 91% from 2019–2023.
- After nearly a decade of stable rates of acute hepatitis B from 2011–2019, a decrease was observed from 2019–2020, and rates have remained relatively stable through 2023.
- Following a decade of increasing rates of acute hepatitis C from 2011–2020, the rate has remained relatively stable from 2020–2023.
Purpose
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver often caused by a virus. In the US, 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, and there is treatment for hepatitis B. Although no vaccine is available for hepatitis C, treatment can cure infection from the virus. Learn more about the different viral hepatitis types.
Report overview and citation
The Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report – United States, 2023 is published by the Division of Viral Hepatitis, National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia.
Data are presented for cases of viral hepatitis from January 1, 2023–December 31, 2023, and prior years for comparison. All material contained in this report is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without special permission; however, citing this report is appreciated.
How the data are used
The Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report — United States, 2023 presents information from 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 improve viral hepatitis public health policy and practice in support of national viral hepatitis elimination goals.
Key findings
Hepatitis A
During 2023, 49 states and the District of Columbia reported 1,648 hepatitis A cases corresponding to 3,300 estimated infections. There were 85 hepatitis A-related deaths reported during 2023.
Hepatitis B
During 2023, 47 states and the District of Columbia reported 2,214 acute hepatitis B cases, corresponding to 14,400 estimated acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections; 44 states and the District of Columbia had a total of 17,650 newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases. There were 1,769 hepatitis B-related deaths reported during 2023.
- Rate of acute hepatitis B is highest among non-Hispanic Black persons: The rate of acute hepatitis B among non-Hispanic Black persons increased 54% from 2020–2023 and was 1.9 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons during 2023
- Rates of hepatitis B-related deaths highest among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) persons and non-Hispanic Black persons: The rates of reported hepatitis B-related deaths among non-Hispanic A/PI persons and non-Hispanic Black persons were 8.5 times and 2.7 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons, respectively.
Hepatitis C
During 2023, 47 states and the District of Columbia reported a total of 4,966 acute hepatitis C cases corresponding to 69,000 estimated acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections; 45 states and the District of Columbia had a total of 101,525 newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases. There were 11,194 hepatitis C-related deaths reported during 2023.
- Rate of acute hepatitis C is highest among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons: Although the rate of acute hepatitis C among non-Hispanic White persons remained stable from 2022–2023, the rate among non-Hispanic AI/AN persons increased by 22% and during 2023 was 2.4 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons.
- Rate of hepatitis C-related deaths is highest among non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic Black persons: The rates of reported hepatitis C-related deaths among non-Hispanic AI/AN persons and non-Hispanic Black persons were 3.2 times and 1.7 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons, respectively.