CDC Viral Hepatitis Updates

Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month.. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are three types of viral hepatitis. While each can produce similar symptoms, each hepatitis virus affects the liver differently, has different routes of transmission, and has different populations that are commonly affected.

MMWR: Increase in Hepatitis A Virus Infections — United States, 2013–2018

This report outlines the ACIP recommendation that all persons reports of hepatitis A infections in the United States increased by 294%. compared with 2013–2015, related to outbreaks associated with contaminated food items, among men who have sex with men, and primarily, among persons who report drug use or homelessness. Increasing vaccination among groups at risk for hepatitis A infection might halt ongoing outbreaks and prevent future outbreaks.

Hepatitis A Outbreak Resources

CDC’s Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) has been assisting multiple state and local health departments with hepatitis A outbreaks, spread through person-to-person contact.

Professional resources
HAV specimen submission requirements
Educational resources including posters, fact sheets, pocket cards

CDC: 2019 Pink Book Webinar Series

C is offering a weekly series of 15 one-hour webinars that will provide an overview of vaccination principles, general recommendations, immunization strategies, and specific information about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Each webinar will explore a chapter from the 13th edition of Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (the “Pink Book”) and will also include updated information from recent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meetings and votes. The webinars start on June 5, 2019, and will air live most Wednesdays from 12–1 p.m. EDT through September 25, 2019. Continuing Education (CE) will be available for each event.Schedule and additional information.