Highlights
- There were 2,045 new cases of acute hepatitis B reported during 2021.
- There were 13,300 estimated acute hepatitis B virus infections during 2021.
- There were 14,229 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis B during 2021.
- There were 5.9 newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B per 100,000 people during 2021.
What is hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by infection of the liver with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is uninfected.
This can happen through sexual contact; sharing needles, syringes, or other drug-injection equipment; or from the gestational parent to baby during pregnancy or at birth.
For some persons, hepatitis B is an acute, or short-term, illness; for others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection. Chronic hepatitis B can lead to serious health problems, including cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death.
Quick facts
Acute hepatitis B
2,045
There were 13,300 estimated acute hepatitis B virus infections during 2021.
During 2021, 47 states reported 2,045 acute hepatitis B cases resulting in an estimated 13,300 infections. After a decade of stable rates, the rate of acute hepatitis B abruptly decreased in 2020; the rate decreased again by 14% in 2021. This decrease may be related to fewer people seeking healthcare and being tested for hepatitis B during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hepatitis B prevention
Hepatitis B vaccination prevents hepatitis B. Reported cases of acute hepatitis B decreased after CDC recommended routine child vaccination in 1991. The decrease continued until 2011, leveled off, and then declined again in 2020 and 2021, which may be due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To further decrease hepatitis B incidence, CDC published the 2022 universal hepatitis B adult vaccination recommendation calling for all people aged 19–59 years to receive hepatitis B vaccine whether they have risk factors or not.
Fast facts about acute hepatitis B in 2021
Rate of acute hepatitis B cases
The rate of reported acute hepatitis B cases decreased 14% from 2020–2021.
Case rates by age
73% of all acute hepatitis B cases were persons aged 30–59 years.
Case rates by region
States in the Appalachian region had rates of acute hepatitis B higher than the US average.
Case rates by demographic
Rates of acute hepatitis B were highest among non-Hispanic Black persons.
Chronic hepatitis B
There were 14,229 cases of newly reported chronic hepatitis B during 2021.
There were 5.9 newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B per 100,000 people during 2021.
During 2021, a total of 14,229 newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B, corresponding to a rate of 5.9 cases per 100,000 people.
The rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander persons (27.0 cases per 100,000 people) was 14 times the rate among non-Hispanic White persons (1.9 cases per 100,000 people).
Fast facts about chronic hepatitis B in 2021
Case rates by demographics
In 2021, the rate of newly reported chronic hepatitis B was 14x higher among non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander persons than among non-Hispanic White persons.
Case rates by age
89% of newly reported chronic hepatitis B cases occurred in persons 30 years and older.