May is Hepatitis Awareness Month in the United States (U.S.).  May 19^th is Hepatitis Testing Day.  During this month we work extra hard to shed light on the impact that viral hepatitis has on the public.  By raising awareness around hepatitis, we can also encourage testing, vaccination, and treatment.

Hepatitis Key Facts

• • Chronic hepatitis B and C are leading causes of liver cancer in the U.S.
  • Both hepatitis A and B are preventable with safe and effective vaccines.
  • Hepatitis C is curable with prescribed treatment.
  • Many adults with hepatitis A may be unaware of their infection as they may not show symptoms.  Children with hepatitis A under the age of 6 often have no symptoms.
    • Those with hepatitis A can still transmit the virus even if they are not showing symptoms.
  • Talk to your healthcare provider about testing for hepatitis B and hepatitis C.  Testing and screening during pregnancy is important for you and your baby’s health.
  • Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis B or C.
  • Specific laboratory testing must be performed to identify hepatitis A.
    • If you are concerned about hepatitis A, please speak with a healthcare provider.

Get Involved

• • Share the ABCs of Viral Hepatitis.  Help others learn about the three most common types of viral hepatitis in the U.S.
  • If you are a provider and offer hepatitis testing read about how to register your services through our online registry.
  • Visit our website to learn more about viral hepatitis.
  • Find provider-specific information and resources to share online.

Get the Word Out

Follow the Virginia Disease Prevention Hotline on Facebook.  Share our posts around Hepatitis Awareness Month and National Hepatitis Testing Day.  Those posts will have the following hashtags: #HepAware2024, #HepatitisAwarenessMonth, #NationalHepatitisTestingDay and #Hepatitis.

Find other info on our Facebook as well. This includes mpox and syphilis info, both of which we are seeing increased cases of in Virginia.

Got Questions?

If you or a loved one has questions about viral hepatitis, call the Disease Prevention Hotline. Reach us toll-free at (800) 533-4148.  You can reach a hotline counselor any weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The hotline is closed for Virginia holidays.

STI Awareness Week is observed the second full week in April each year.  STI is another term for sexually transmitted infection. This week provides the chance to raise awareness about STIs and how they can impact our lives.  It allows us to reduce STI-related stigma and fear.  We want people to know about STI prevention, testing, and treatment. 

This year, STI Awareness Week comes at a critical time. There have been continued increases in STIs across the United States.  These increases have also been occurring here in Virginia.  We have seen dramatic increases in syphilis in adults and newborn babies.  Virginia has seen the following increases in cases since 2018:

• • 13% increase in gonorrhea 
  • 32% increase in syphilis among adults 
  • 82% increase in syphilis cases among newborn babies
     

In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 20 percent of the U.S. population had an STI on any given day.  That is 1 in 5 people! This totaled almost 68 million infections in 2018.   

CDC also estimated that STIs acquired that year cost the American health care system nearly $16 billion in health care costs alone.  Given the case increase since 2018, imagine the cost to the American health care system today! 

Many STIs have no symptoms.  The only way to be sure of your status is to get tested.  Talk to your healthcare provider about testing if you are sexually active or have not been tested since the last time you were sexually active.  You can find free or low-cost STI testing at your local health department or another testing site near you: https://bit.ly/2OE8EaC.  If you have an STI that is left untreated, it can lead to issues such as: 

• • increased risk of getting or spreading HIV 
  • long-term pelvic and abdominal pain 
  • inability to get pregnant 
  • pregnancy complications 
  • Many other issues, especially with syphilis and HIV 

Learn more about STIs and how they spread on our website: https://bit.ly/2Vaj16J.  We have the tools to treat and stop the spread of STIs.  Let’s use them! 

If you have questions about STIs or need help finding STI services, call our toll-free hotline today at (800) 533-4148.  Hotline hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.  The hotline is closed on Virginia state holidays.