Highlights
- There were 4,966 new cases of acute hepatitis C reported during 2023.
- There were 69,000 estimated acute HCV infections during 2023 after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting.
- There were 101,525 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis C during 2023.
- There were 11,194 hepatitis C-related deaths reported during 2023.
What is hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by an infection of the liver with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is a bloodborne virus. Transmission can happen through sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; from the mother to baby during pregnancy or at birth; or (rarely) through sexual contact.
Today, in the United States, the majority of persons become infected with HCV by sharing needles or other equipment used to inject drugs. For certain persons, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for about half of persons who become infected with HCV, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection.
Like chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. Persons might not be aware of their infection if they do not have symptoms.
Since 2013, highly effective, well-tolerated curative treatments have been available for hepatitis C, but no vaccine for preventing hepatitis C is yet available.
Quick facts
Acute hepatitis C in 2023
4,966
There were 4,966 new cases of acute hepatitis C reported during 2023.
69,000
There were 69,000 estimated acute HCV infections during 2023 after adjusting for case underascertainment and underreporting.
After over a decade of consecutive annual increases in acute hepatitis C, the number of acute hepatitis C cases has remained relatively stable since 2021. This stabilization was observed despite a change to the acute hepatitis C case definition in 2020, which was designed to improve sensitivity in identifying acute hepatitis C cases (see Technical Notes/Case Definitions).
In 2020, ob体育 issued universal adult and pregnancy screening guidelines. In 2023, ob体育 issued updated recommendations for complete and accurate HCV testing and perinatal HCV testing. It is important that health care professionals, public health officials, and organizations involved in the development, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of clinical and preventive services follow and use these recommendations.
Fast facts about acute hepatitis C in 2023
Case rates
The rate of acute hepatitis C was 1.5 reported cases per 100,000 population, remaining relatively stable since 2021.
Total cases
The number of acute hepatitis C cases in 2023 was 1.7 times as high as in 2016.
Case rates by age
Persons aged 30–39 years had the highest rates of acute hepatitis C.
Case rates by demographics
The rate of acute hepatitis C is higher among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native persons than any other group, and is 2.3 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons (the largest demographic in the United States).
Did you know?
During 2023, rates of acute hepatitis C were highest among males, persons aged 30–39 years, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons, and those living in the Eastern and Southeastern states. Among cases with risk information reported, the most common risk factor was injection drug use.
Chronic hepatitis C and hepatitis C-related deaths in 2023
101,525
There were 101,525 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis C during 2023.
11,194
There were 11,194 hepatitis C-related deaths reported during 2023.
During 2023, 45 states and the District of Columbia reported a total of 101,525 newly identified chronic hepatitis C cases, corresponding to 36.2 chronic hepatitis C cases per 100,000 population.
The age-adjusted death rate for hepatitis C during 2023 (2.5 deaths per 100,000 population) decreased 13% from 2022 (2.9 deaths per 100,000 population).
The death rates were higher among non-Hispanic AI/AN and non-Hispanic Black persons (3.2 times and 1.7 times, respectively) than among non-Hispanic White persons.
Fast facts about chronic hepatitis C and hepatitis C-related deaths in 2023
Case rates by age
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases was highest among persons aged 30–39 and 40–49; these two age groups combined accounted for 48% of all newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases.
Case rates by sex
66% of newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases occurred among men.
Case rates by race/ethnicity
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases was highest among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native persons at 99.4 cases per 100,000 population.
Highest rates of chronic hepatitis C
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases was higher among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native persons than any other group, and was 3.3 times as high as the rate among non-Hispanic White persons (the largest group in the United States).
Did you know?
Chronic hepatitis C affects multiple generations, with peaks in reported cases among younger age groups at 33 years and among older age groups at 65 years.