May is Hepatitis Awareness Month

National Hepatitis Testing Day is May 19

Viral hepatitis is a silent epidemic in the United States and more than 4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. Every year, approximately 15,000 Americans die from liver cancer or chronic liver disease associated with viral hepatitis. Despite these statistics, viral hepatitis is not well known. As many as 75 percent people with chronic viral hepatitis do not know that they are infected. To address this major public health issue, May 19 is designated as the first ever National Hepatitis Testing Day.

Find out if you are at risk and if you should be tested for hepatitis by taking a 5 minute online Hepatitis Risk Assessment (exit DHS).

For more information on Hepatitis Awareness Month, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HepAwarenessMonth.htm (exit DHS).

For information on National Hepatitis Testing Day, visit the Testing Day website at http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/TestingDay/index.htm (exit DHS).

Late Breaker: Notes from the Field -- Hepatitis C Virus Infections Among Young Adults - Rural Wisconsin 2010 (exit DHS)