Hepatitis Awareness Month

Posted on by R. Ellick

Last Updated: May 21, 2025

Hepatitis Awareness Month is observed May each year. Hepatitis Testing Day is May 19 annually.  During this time, we work hard to shed light on how viral hepatitis impacts our communities.  We do this by:

  1. Educating the public
  2. Encouraging testing/screening for hepatitis
  3. Discussing the importance of vaccinations for hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis Facts

  1. There are several different viruses that can cause hepatitis.  The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
  2. Some hepatitis infections are short-term and clear on their own.  Others can become long-term and need ongoing medical care.
  3. Long-term hepatitis B and C are leading causes of liver cancer in the U.S.
  4. Both hepatitis A and B are preventable through safe and effective vaccines.
  5. Hepatitis C can be cured with a prescribed treatment.
  6. All adults up to age 60 should consider vaccination against hepatitis A and B.  Those 60+ should consider vaccination if they have certain risk factors.  If you are 60+ and do not have risk factors, talk to your healthcare provider about if vaccination may be beneficial or not.
  7. Hepatitis A Vaccine Info
  8. Hepatitis B Vaccine Info
  9. More than 65% of people that have hepatitis B are unaware of their infection.
  10. About 40% of people living with hepatitis C are unaware that they have it.
  11. All adults should get tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime. Pregnant women should be tested for both during each pregnancy.  People with ongoing risk for HBV and/or HCV should test routinely for as long as risk persists.  Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis B or C.

What is Virginia Doing?

Virginia offers/funds multiple programs and services for viral hepatitis statewide.  These include:

  1. Testing
  2. Vaccination
  3. Linkage to medical care
  4. Treatment assistance for some vulnerable populations
  5. And more

Genomic Surveillance Project

VDH has partnered with the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory to implement genomic surveillance of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). This partnership enables the detection and response to HCV transmission networks. This project has already detected HCV transmission networks spanning multiple jurisdictions. Detecting these networks allows VDH to:

  1. strategically direct resources,
  2. enhance prevention efforts, and
  3. deploy targeted interventions where they are most needed.

Questions about Viral Hepatitis?

Learn more about viral hepatitis by visiting our website.  There you can also find sites near you that provide free or low-cost vaccinations or testing services.

For more information about viral hepatitis, call the Disease Prevention Hotline.  Reach a hotline operator toll-free at (800) 533-4148.