Highlights
- There were 1,648 new cases of hepatitis A reported during 2023.
- There were 3,300 estimated hepatitis A virus infections during 2023 after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting.
- There were 85 hepatitis A-related deaths reported during 2023.
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by an infection of the liver with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is usually transmitted person to person through the fecal-oral route or through consumption of contaminated food or water.
Most adults and older children with hepatitis A have symptoms that usually resolve within 2 months after infection; children aged less than 6 years usually do not have symptoms, or they have an unrecognized infection.
Signs and symptoms associated with hepatitis A can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Dark urine or clay-colored stools
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection. Treatment for HAV infection might include rest, adequate nutrition, and fluids. Hospitalization might be required for more severe cases.
Quick facts
Hepatitis A in 2023
1,648
There were 1,648 new cases of hepatitis A reported during 2023.
3,300
There were 3,300 estimated HAV infections during 2023 after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting.
85
There were 85 hepatitis A-related deaths reported during 2023.
After annual increases from 2015–2019, hepatitis A cases began to decrease in 2020. Since 2016, the United States experienced hepatitis A outbreaks in multiple states that were caused by person-to-person spread primarily among adults who use drugs and experience homelessness. From 2022–2023, there was a 28% decrease in the rate of newly reported cases of hepatitis A. However, the number of cases in 2023 remained 1.2 times as high as in 2015 (the year prior to when the widespread outbreaks began).
Fast facts about hepatitis A during 2023
Rate of hepatitis A cases
The number of hepatitis A cases decreased 28% during 2022–2023.
Number of hepatitis A cases
The number of hepatitis A cases in 2023 was 1.2 times as high as in 2015.
Highest rate of hepatitis A cases
Persons aged 30–39 years had the highest rate of hepatitis A.
Case rates by demographics
The rate of hepatitis A among Hispanic persons was 2.0 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons.