Baseline demographic, hospitalization, and mortality data from CHeCS highlight the substantial US health burden from chronic viral hepatitis, particularly among persons born during 1945-1964.

No abstract

Even in this population with access to care and lengthy follow-up, only a fraction of expected viral hepatitis infections were identified. Abnormal ALT levels often but not consistently triggered testing. These findings have implications for the identification and care of 4-5 million US residents with HBV and HCV infection.

A high attack rate in households, lack of a common source of infection, and poor hygienic practices in households with > or = 2 cases suggest person-to-person transmission of HEV during this outbreak.

In October 2007, an epidemic of hepatitis E was suspected in Kitgum District of northern Uganda where no previous epidemics had been documented. This outbreak has progressed to become one of the largest hepatitis E outbreaks in the world. By June 2009, the epidemic had caused illness in >10,196 persons and 160 deaths.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a large observational cohort, FIB-4 was good at differentiating 5 stages of chronic HCV infection. It can be useful in screening patients who need biopsy and therapy, for monitoring patients with less advanced disease, and for longitudinal studies.

May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C, the most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States, can cause chronic infections, and many persons remain unaware of their infection until serious complications occur. In 2016, an estimated 862,000 and 2.4 million persons were living with hepatitis B and hepatitis C, respectively, despite availability of a vaccine and effective treatment for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C (1,2). Although hepatitis A is preventable through vaccination, multiple states have had outbreaks since 2016, with unprecedented large numbers of cases and person-toperson spread (primarily among persons who use drugs or experience homelessness). A report in this issue of MMWR summarizes this resurgence of hepatitis A among unvaccinated adults at risk (3). New cases of hepatitis C are also increasing; during 2010-2016, they increased 3.5-fold, mostly among young adults (4). Recent increases in viral hepatitis infections, many attributed to surges in injection-drug use (4), highlight the importance of acknowledging and combatting the infectious disease consequences of the nation's opioid crisis.