Highlights
- There were 2,214 new cases of acute hepatitis B reported during 2023.
- There were 14,400 estimated acute HBV infections during 2023 after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting.
- There were 17,650 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis B during 2023.
- There were 1,769 hepatitis B-related deaths reported during 2023.
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by an infection of the liver with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is uninfected.
This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or from the mother to baby during pregnancy or at birth.
For some persons, hepatitis B is an acute, or short-term, illness; for others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health problems, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death.
Quick facts
Acute hepatitis B
2,214
There were 2,214 new cases of acute hepatitis B reported during 2023.
14,400
There were 14,400 estimated acute HBV infections during 2023 after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting.
During 2023, 47 states and the District of Columbia reported 2,214 acute hepatitis B cases, corresponding to an estimated 14,400 infections after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting. After a decade of stable rates, the rate of acute hepatitis B decreased in 2020 and remained relatively stable from 2021–2023.
Hepatitis B prevention
Hepatitis B vaccination prevents hepatitis B. To further decrease hepatitis B incidence, CDC published the 2022 universal hepatitis B adult vaccination recommendation calling for all people aged 19–59 years to receive hepatitis B vaccine whether they have risk factors or not. In addition, CDC updated hepatitis B screening recommendations, advising hepatitis B screening for all adults at least once in their lifetime.
Fast facts about acute hepatitis B in 2023
Case rates
The rate of acute hepatitis B was 0.7 reported cases per 100,000 population, remaining relatively stable since 2020.
Cases rates by age
The rate of acute hepatitis B was highest among persons aged 40–49 and 50–59 years; these two age groups combined accounted for 48% of all reported acute hepatitis B cases.
Case rates by demographics
The rate of acute hepatitis B among non-Hispanic Black persons was 1.9 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons.
Cases rates by jurisdiction
States with the highest rates were primarily located in the eastern and southeastern United States, particularly in or near the Appalachian region.
Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related deaths in 2023
17,650
There were 17,650 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis B during 2023.
1,769
There were 1,769 hepatitis B-related deaths reported during 2023.
During 2023, 17,650 cases of chronic hepatitis B were newly reported by 44 states and the District of Columbia, corresponding to a rate of 6.1 cases per 100,000 people.
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) persons (18.9 cases per 100,000 population) was 9.9 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons (1.9 cases per 100,000 population).
Fast facts about chronic hepatitis B in 2023
Case rates by age
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases was highest among persons aged 30–39 and 40–49; these two age groups combined accounted for 46% of all newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases.
Case rates by demographics
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases among non-Hispanic A/PI persons was 9.9 times as high as among non-Hispanic White persons.
Acute vs. chronic rates
Although the rate of reported acute hepatitis B cases was the lowest among non-Hispanic A/PI persons, the rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases was highest among this group.