CDC Viral Hepatitis Updates

Surveillance for Viral Hepatitis – United States, 2015

The 2015 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report has now been published to the Division of Viral Hepatitis website. Highlights from the report include the following.

The number of reported cases of hepatitis A increased 12.2% to 1,390 cases in 2015. After adjusting for under-ascertainment and under-reporting, the estimated number of new HAV infections in 2015 was 2,800.

The number of reported cases of acute hepatitis B increased 20.7% to 3,370 cases in 2015. After adjusting for under-ascertainment and under-reporting, the estimated number of new HBV infections in 2015 was 21,900. In addition to acute cases of hepatitis B, chronic HBV infection remains a major public health challenge. CDC, using most recent national prevalence data, estimates that approximately 850,000 persons are living with HBV in the U.S., although other studies have estimated this number to be as high as 2.2 million.

The number of reported acute hepatitis C cases was 2,436 in 2015. This represents a more than 2.9-fold increase in cases from 2010 through 2015. The increase in acute HCV case reports reflects new infections associated with rising rates of injection-drug use, and, to a much lesser extent, improved case detection. After adjusting for under-ascertainment and under-reporting, an estimated 33,900 new HCV infections occurred in 2015. Based on the data from national health surveys conducted in the 2003-2010 time period, approximately 3.5 million persons are currently infected with HCV.
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2015surveillance/index.htm

New CDC Yellow Book 2018 – Now Available!

The fully revised and updated CDC Yellow Book 2018: Health Information for International Travelprovides the U.S. government's most current health guidelines and information for clinicians advising international travelers, including pre-travel vaccine recommendations, destination-specific health advice, and easy-to-reference maps, tables, and charts. The 2018 Yellow Book includes important travel medicine updates:

The latest information about emerging infectious disease threats such as Zika, Ebola, and MERS.
New cholera vaccine recommendations.
Updated guidance on the use of antibiotics in the treatment of travelers' diarrhea.
Special considerations for unique types of travel, such as wilderness expeditions, work-related travel, and study abroad.
Destination-specific recommendations for popular itineraries, including new sections for travelers to Cuba and Burma.

The latest edition is currently available for free online at www.cdc.gov/yellowbook.