May is Hepatitis Awareness Month

New York State recognizes May as Hepatitis Awareness Month, including May 19^th as National Hepatitis Testing Day and May 25^th as Hepatitis C Cure Day. This is an occasion to celebrate those who have been cured for hepatitis C, improve everyone’s understanding about viral hepatitis transmission, and help reduce social stigma that perpetuates the epidemic.

Hepatitis affects the liver and can cause serious health problems, including liver damage and liver cancer. Hepatitis A, B and C are the most common types of hepatitis. Safe and effective vaccines are available to help prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Although no vaccine is available for hepatitis C, treatment is available that is easy to take and can cure most people in as little as eight weeks.

Since 2020, New York State saw a 3% increase in newly reported cases of hepatitis C. Hepatitis C transmission has been exacerbated by the opioid epidemic in the State. In 2021, most newly reported hepatitis C cases under the age of 40 indicated drug use as their primary risk for hepatitis C.

While curative treatment for hepatitis C is available, large gaps in testing and treatment persist. Of the estimated 116,000 people living with hepatitis C in New York State, half are unaware of their infection and therefore do no benefit from available curative treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that every adult get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime and pregnant people during each pregnancy.

The New York State Hepatitis C Elimination Plan outlines a set of recommendations to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030 in the New York State by addressing the inequities that sustain the hepatitis C epidemic. 

Help New York State eliminate hepatitis C.

• Learn about New York’s progress towards elimination during the first Annual New York State Hepatitis C Elimination Progress Report on May 10, 2023.

• Join in the nationwide effort to encourage everyone to get tested and learn their status on May 19^th. Learn who should be tested for hepatis C and where free hepatitis C rapid testing is available.

• Take part in Hepatitis C Cure Day on May 25^th to celebrate those cured of hepatitis C and encourage others to get treated. Find a hepatitis C provider.

• Learn more about hepatitis C at NY Cures Hep C.