Chronic Hepatitis B Fast Facts

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http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ChronicHepatitisB/?source=govdelivery

Chronic Hepatitis B Fast Facts

•Chronic Hepatitis B is a global public health issue. 350 million people

worldwide are living with chronic Hepatitis B, including 1.2 million in the

United States.

•The hepatitis B virus is very infectious; it is 50-100 times more infectious

than the HIV virus.

•The virus is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids and can

be spread from an infected mother to her baby at birth.

•Hepatitis B can be prevented with the hepatitis B vaccine, but millions of

people got infected when they were infants or during early childhood, before the

availability and widespread use of the Hepatitis B vaccine.

•The Hepatitis B virus has been spread from generation to generation,

especially in countries without infant vaccination programs.

•The risk for developing chronic Hepatitis B depends on a person's age when

first infected. â—¦Infants who get infected have a 90% chance of developing a

life-long, chronic infection.

â—¦ If infected as an adult, most people are able to " clear " the Hepatitis B

virus.

•Chronic Hepatitis B is often " silent " - many people can go up to 20-30 years

without symptoms or feeling sick.

•Approximately 15%-25% of people with chronic Hepatitis B develop serious

liver problems, which can include liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, or

liver cancer.

[Guest guest]

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ChronicHepatitisB/?source=govdelivery

Chronic Hepatitis B Fast Facts

•Chronic Hepatitis B is a global public health issue. 350 million people

worldwide are living with chronic Hepatitis B, including 1.2 million in the

United States.

•The hepatitis B virus is very infectious; it is 50-100 times more infectious

than the HIV virus.

•The virus is spread through contact with blood or other body fluids and can

be spread from an infected mother to her baby at birth.

•Hepatitis B can be prevented with the hepatitis B vaccine, but millions of

people got infected when they were infants or during early childhood, before the

availability and widespread use of the Hepatitis B vaccine.

•The Hepatitis B virus has been spread from generation to generation,

especially in countries without infant vaccination programs.

•The risk for developing chronic Hepatitis B depends on a person's age when

first infected. â—¦Infants who get infected have a 90% chance of developing a

life-long, chronic infection.

â—¦ If infected as an adult, most people are able to " clear " the Hepatitis B

virus.

•Chronic Hepatitis B is often " silent " - many people can go up to 20-30 years

without symptoms or feeling sick.

•Approximately 15%-25% of people with chronic Hepatitis B develop serious

liver problems, which can include liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, or

liver cancer.