In 2022, the hepatitis C (HCV) infection rate among 18–40 year-olds in New York State (NYS) was 4.0 per 100,000 population, a 27% decrease from 5.5 new HCV infections per 100,000 in 2020. These data are now available as interactive visualizations along with HCV diagnoses and treatment/clearance data on the HCV Dashboard. Users can explore trends for new hepatitis C infections among individuals aged 18-40 at the statewide, rest of state (NYS excluding NYC), and New York City level and compare actual rates to elimination targets.
Recent studies suggest that adults between the ages of 18 and 40 are the most frequent users of injection drugs across the nation. Consequently, given the evidence that new hepatitis C infections in this demographic are likely attributable to injection drug use, acute HCV infections in these individuals may serve as a proxy indicator for new infections in the broader population of injection drug users. For further information on this approach to a key New York State elimination metric, new HCV infections among people who inject drugs , please refer to the methodology behind this elimination metric on our Targets and Metrics page.
