Disease Information

Millions of Americans are living with viral hepatitis, and more than half don’t know they have the virus. Thus, they are at risk for life-threatening liver disease and cancer and unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. It is estimated that 3.5 million people are living with hepatitis C in the United States and 850,000 people are living with hepatitis B.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the racial/ethnic group that is most heavily affected by hepatitis B virus; they comprise about 5% of the U.S. population but comprise about half of all persons living with hepatitis B.

Africans Americans comprise approximately 11% of the U.S. population, but comprise 25% of people in the U.S. with chronic hepatitis C infections.

African Americans have higher rates of infection and hepatitis C-related death compared with the overall population.  (SOURCE: Dept. of Health and Human Services) Link –