Hidden Hepatitis Epidemics Threaten Millions in the U.S.

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/09/27 - Updated: 2025/05/20
Publication Type: Announcement
Category Topic: Hepatitis Types - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This report, authored by leading experts from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and Trust for America's Health, highlights the urgent and largely unrecognized public health crises posed by hepatitis B and C in the United States. It reveals that an estimated 65 to 75 percent of the five million Americans infected with these viruses are unaware of their status, putting them at risk for severe complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The report draws on authoritative sources, including a landmark Institute of Medicine study, and provides data-driven projections that, without intervention, up to 150,000 Americans could die from liver-related diseases linked to hepatitis B or C in the coming decade, with death rates from hepatitis C expected to triple.

The analysis is especially relevant to seniors, people with disabilities, and minority communities, as it notes higher infection rates among Baby Boomers, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, and African Americans. The report's recommendations for universal screening, vaccination, standardized care, and public education offer practical steps to curb these “silent epidemics,” making the information highly useful for healthcare providers, policymakers, and at-risk populations seeking to prevent avoidable suffering and healthcare costs - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

HBV and HCV are ticking time bombs. If we don't act now to diagnose the millions of Baby Boomers and others, we'll be too late to spare them from developing serious liver diseases.

Main Content

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) has issued a new report calling for action to be taken to transform how the country deals with viral hepatitis - to help identify millions of Americans who know they are living with chronic forms of hepatitis B and hep C and to assure access to treatment for all who need it, to prevent even more Americans from becoming infected.

"This report is a critical next step that builds on a recent groundbreaking Institute of Medicine report on viral hepatitis and translates it into a series of action items which will be critically important to control the silent epidemic of viral hepatitis in the U.S.," said Arun J Sanyal MD, President of AASLD.

The report, HBV & HCV: America's Hidden Epidemics, examines how new measures included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) combined with new scientific advancements could be used to spare millions of Americans from developing cirrhosis, liver cancer, or other life threatening complications as they age - which could also lead to billions of dollars in health care savings.

"HBV and HCV are ticking time bombs. If we don't act now to diagnose the millions of Baby Boomers and others, we'll be too late to spare them from developing serious liver diseases. We'll all end up paying the price, since Medicare and Medicaid will end up picking up the tab for much of the care," said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., Executive Director of TFAH. "Health reform and new science give us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink how we deal with these silent killers."

Some key findings in the report include that:

The death rate from HCV is expected to triple in the next 10 to 20 years.
One in 10 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans are estimated to have a chronic HBV infection.
An estimated 540,000 to 858,000 African Americans are estimated to have a chronic HCV infection.
Approximately 800 to 1,000 infants in the United States are infected with HBV at birth each year.
At least 100,000 patients have been notified about potential exposure to HBV, HCV, and/or HIV while receiving health care since 1998.
Two-thirds of HCV cases are Baby Boomers - and if they are left untreated, it could lead to a major increase in upcoming Medicare spending.
Liver cancer treatment can be more than $62,000 for the first year cost and the first-year cost of a liver transplant can be more than $267,000.
An independent analysis found total medical costs for HCV patients could more than double over the next 20 years - from $30 to $80 billion per year.
An estimated 65 to 75 percent of the five million Americans currently infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) do not even know they have the virus.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimates that 150,000 Americans could die from liver cancer or end-stage liver disease associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the next decade.

Some highlight recommendations from AASLD and TFAH in the report include:

Strong public education campaigns and improved surveillance must be put in place to help prevent new infections.
Policies must be established to ensure that health care associated hepatitis infections are treated as a "never event".
Every person diagnosed with HBV or HCV should have access to and receive a minimum standardized level of care and receive support services.
The investment in hepatitis-related biomedical and behavior must be significantly increased - and should be more proportionate to the public health threat associated with hepatitis.
HBV and HCV screening and HBV vaccination should be the standard of care in the reformed health system. All Americans should be screened for HBV and HCV and all Americans should be vaccinated for HBV.
All pregnant women should be screened for HBV and appropriate health measures should be taken to prevent perinatal transmission from infected mothers to their newborns. All newborns should receive their initial (birth-dose) of hepatitis vaccine within twelve hours of birth.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The editorial perspective underscores that the true threat of hepatitis B and C lies not only in their prevalence but in the widespread lack of awareness and diagnosis. As the report makes clear, the nation stands at a crossroads where proactive screening, vaccination, and education could transform outcomes for millions - particularly among vulnerable groups such as seniors, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities. Ignoring these recommendations risks overwhelming the healthcare system and perpetuating preventable illness and death. Acting on this authoritative guidance is not just a matter of public health, but of social responsibility - Disabled World (DW).

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.