At a glance
Rates* of reported cases† of acute hepatitis B, by age group — United States, 2007–2022
Source: CDC, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
* Rates per 100,000 population. Beginning in 2021, single-race population estimates are used for rate calculations. For prior years, bridged-race population estimates are used.
† Reported confirmed cases. For the case definition, see Acute Hepatitis B.
Summary
Since 2011, rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B remained low and decreased among children and adolescents aged 0-19 years and persons aged 20-29 years. This is likely explained, in part, because of the implementation of childhood hepatitis B vaccine recommendations first issued in 1991. Because the cohort of persons vaccinated as infants and children have grown older, the rate of acute hepatitis B among persons aged 30-39 years began to consistently decrease beginning in 2015.
Conversely, rates of reported cases of acute hepatitis B among persons aged 40-49 years, 50-59 years, and 60 years and older steadily increased during 2015-2019. In 2020, rates declined in all adult age groups and persisted through 2021. In 2022, the highest rates were among persons 40-49 years (1.4 cases per 100,000 population) and 50-59 years (1.2 cases per 100,000 population). Compared to 2021, rates among persons aged 50 years and older increased, whereas rates among persons aged 30-49 years decreased.