Epidemiology and 

Prevention of Viral 

Hepatitis A to E:

Epidemiology and 

Prevention of Viral 

Hepatitis A to E:

Hepatitis Branch

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

An Overview

An Overview

Viral Hepatitis - Historical 

Perspective

Viral Hepatitis - Historical 

Perspective

A

A

“

“

Infectious”

Infectious”

“

“

Serum”

Serum”

Viral 

Viral 

hepatitis

hepatitis

Enterically

Enterically

transmitted

transmitted

Parenterally

Parenterally

transmitted

transmitted

F, G,

F, G,

? other

? other

E

E

NANB

NANB

B

B

D

D

C

C

 

Viral Hepatitis - Overview

Viral Hepatitis - Overview

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

Source of

virus

feces

blood/

blood-derived

body fluids

blood/

blood-derived

body fluids

blood/

blood-derived

body fluids

feces

Route of

transmission

fecal-oral

percutaneous

permucosal

percutaneous

permucosal

percutaneous

permucosal

fecal-oral

Chronic

infection

no

yes

yes

yes

no

Prevention

pre/post-

exposure

immunization

pre/post-

exposure

immunization

blood donor

screening;

risk behavior

modification

pre/post-

exposure

immunization;

risk behavior

modification

ensure safe

drinking

water

Type of Hepatitis

Type of Hepatitis

47%

34%

16%

3%

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis

 Non-ABC

Source: CDC Sentinel Counties Study on Viral Hepatitis

Acute Viral Hepatitis by Type, United States, 

1982-1993 

Acute Viral Hepatitis by Type, United States, 

1982-1993 

Estimates of Acute and Chronic 

Disease

Burden for Viral Hepatitis, United 

States

Estimates of Acute and Chronic 

Disease

Burden for Viral Hepatitis, United 

States

HAV

HAV

HBV

HBV

HCV

HCV

HDV

HDV

Acute infections

(x 1000)/year*

125-200

140-320

35-180

6-13

Fulminant 

deaths/year

100

150

?

35

Chronic

infections

0

1-1.25 

million

3.5

million

70,000

Chronic liver disease 

deaths/year

0

5,000

8-10,000

1,000

* Range based on estimated annual incidence, 1984-1994.