This is a presentation of 24 facts about hepatitis that the CDC shared through hourly tweets during World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2009.

1. World Hepatitis Day
24 Facts in 24 Hours
May 19, 2009

2. World Hepatitis Day Fact #1
Today is World Hepatitis Day. Show your support –
follow @worldhepday & @cdchep. We’ll be tweeting
a new fact every hour today.

3. World Hepatitis Day Fact #2
15,000 persons die of chronic viral hepatitis each year
in US ‐ a number similar equal to HIV.

4. World Hepatitis Day Fact #3
Viral hepatitis is leading cause of
liver transplants in US.

5. World Hepatitis Day Fact #4
Hepatitis A, B, and C – same symptoms;
different infections.
Which are preventable with a vaccine?

6. World Hepatitis Day Fact #5
Once infected, infants are more likely to develop
chronic hepatitis B than adults.
Vaccine at birth is best way to prevent it.

7. World Hepatitis Day Fact #6
African Americans develop liver cancer from hepatitis
C at 2 times the rates of Caucasians.

8. World Hepatitis Day Fact #7
10% of hepatitis A and 20% of hepatitis B infections
occur in gay men.
Vaccine is available for both.

9. World Hepatitis Day Fact #8
CDC Hepatitis Division Head joins partners to brief
Congress about health disparities and hepatitis.
http://ow.ly/7FSV

10. World Hepatitis Day Fact #9
Sharing needles – even once – can lead to hepatitis.
Get Tested.

11. World Hepatitis Day Fact #10
1.4 million people in US have chronic hepatitis B.
And many don’t know.
New CDC testing guidelines. http://ow.ly/79jg

12. World Hepatitis Day Fact #11
True or False? Most people with chronic hepatitis C
have no symptoms.
TRUE.
The only way to know is to get tested.

13. World Hepatitis Day Fact #12
Hepatitis B is vaccine‐preventable.
Yet it is a leading cause of liver cancer.

14. World Hepatitis Day Fact #13
New treatments can delay or stop the effects of liver
disease from hepatitis B.
Early detection and treatment are key.

15. World Hepatitis Day Fact #14
For activities happening around the country today
and in the future, see NVHR calendar.
http://ow.ly/79ii

16. World Hepatitis Day Fact #15
Blood tests are the only way to detect hepatitis.
Learn more at http://ow.ly/79i4

17. World Hepatitis Day Fact #16
Traveling to a foreign country?
Learn if you need the hepatitis A or B vaccine:
http://ow.ly/7zx4

18. World Hepatitis Day Fact #17
85% of people who get hepatitis C will develop
chronic infection.

19. World Hepatitis Day Fact #18
Pregnant women with hepatitis B can pass the virus
to their babies at birth.
A vaccine can prevent the transmission.

20. World Hepatitis Day Fact #19
About 15% of people who get hepatitis C are able to
clear the virus on their own.
We don’t know how.

21. World Hepatitis Day Fact #20
BAD NEWS: Hepatitis B virus is 50–100 times more
infectious than HIV.
GOOD NEWS: There is a vaccine for hepatitis B.

22. World Hepatitis Day Fact #21
About 25% of HIV+ persons in US are infected with
hepatitis C.
Hepatitis is a leading cause of death for
HIV+ persons.

23. World Hepatitis Day Fact #22
For many persons, hepatitis C can be successfully
treated.
Learn more about treatment: http://ow.ly/7D9F

24. World Hepatitis Day Fact #23
Which STD can be prevented with a vaccine?
Hepatitis B.
Learn more. http://ow.ly/7zOq

25. World Hepatitis Day Fact #24
Asian Americans develop liver cancer from hepatitis B
at 3 times the rate of other groups.
Learn more: http://ow.ly/77xK

26. Thanks!
Thanks for supporting World Hepatitis Day! We
tweeted 24 facts about hepatitis today and this
presentation includes them all. Please share this.

27. For More Information…
• CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis:
http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/
• Follow CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis on Twitter:
@cdchep