Integrating Viral Hepatitis Prevention into Public Health Programs Serving People at High Risk for Infection: Good Public Health

Viral hepatitis caused by infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem in the United States. In 2005, there were an estimated 19,000 new cases of hepatitis A, 15,000 new cases of hepatitis B, and 20,000 new HCV infections.1 In addition, at least 1.25 million people have chronic HBV infection and 3.2 to 4 million people are estimated to have chronic HCV infection, which can cause liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.1–3 By comparison, about 1 million people in the United States have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.4