Key points
Reported risk behaviors or exposures among reported cases* of acute hepatitis C — United States, 2023
Source: CDC, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
* Reported confirmed cases. For the case definition, see .
† Reported cases may include more than one risk behavior/exposure. Case reports with at least one of the following risk behaviors/exposures reported 6 weeks to 6 months prior to symptom onset or documented seroconversion if asymptomatic: 1) injection drug use; 2) multiple sexual partners; 3) underwent surgery; 4) men who have sex with men; 5) sexual contact with suspected/confirmed hepatitis C case; 6) sustained a percutaneous injury via needlestick or other potentially contaminated object; 7) household contact with suspected/confirmed hepatitis C case; 8) occupational exposure to blood; 9) dialysis; and 10) transfusion.
** HCV transmission associated with surgery, dialysis, or transfusion is extremely rare in the United States; thus, the reporting of these exposures might represent a history of recent receipt of these health care procedures and do not necessarily indicate these procedures were associated with HCV transmission.
§ A total of 3,321 acute hepatitis C cases were reported among males in 2023.
¶ Cases with more than one type of contact reported were categorized according to a hierarchy: (1) sexual contact; (2) household contact (nonsexual).