- Categories:
- Health
- Tags:
- AwarenessDiseases
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every May 19
- Holiday emoji:
- 🩺
Hepatitis Testing Day is commemorated every May 19 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. This day urges individuals to get tested, as early detection is crucial for preventing severe complications like liver cancer. Do your part to enhance prevention, testing, and awareness.
Want to sponsor Hepatitis Testing Day? Learn how
Expected Hepatitis Testing Day Deals
Hepatitis Testing Day focuses on public health initiatives rather than commercial deals. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Hepatitis B Foundation often partner with local health departments and community clinics to offer free or low-cost testing events. Many healthcare providers, including Quest Diagnostics and Labcorp, support awareness campaigns and provide accessible screening options. Look for educational resources and community outreach programs from the American Liver Foundation during May to learn more about liver health and available testing services. We will update this page with confirmed live events and resources as May 19 approaches.
Platform Guide for Hepatitis Testing Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #HepatitisTestingDay. Share infographics about hepatitis prevention and the importance of testing, or post a photo of yourself getting tested to encourage others.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #HepatitisTestingDay. Join the conversation by sharing facts about viral hepatitis, retweeting official health organization announcements, and advocating for accessible testing.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #HepatitisTestingDay. Create an event for a local testing drive or share personal stories of how testing made a difference in your life or someone you know.
Hepatitis Testing Day Hero
Baruch S. Blumberg
History of Hepatitis Testing Day
Hepatitis Testing Day is an essential opportunity for people from all sectors of society to educate their constituents and communities about viral hepatitis and encourage those who are at risk to be tested. Hepatitis Testing Day was established as a national holiday in 2013 after first being commemorated in 2012 to raise awareness about the silent pandemic of viral hepatitis in the United States.
Hepatitis B affects an estimated 862,000 people, whereas hepatitis C affects an estimated 2.4 million people. The majority of persons who have chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus do not have symptoms until the later stages of the infection. As a result, many Americans living with viral hepatitis are unaware that they are afflicted, putting them at risk for serious, even fatal, complications, as well as spreading the virus to others. Untreated chronic viral hepatitis is a primary cause of liver cancer and the most prevalent reason for liver transplantation in the United States. Hepatitis B treatment is available and can help to avoid the development of liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatitis C is responsible for more deaths in the United States than any other reported infectious disease.
Fortunately, safe and effective oral treatments are available that can cure hepatitis C in as little as an eight to twelve-week course in more than 95 % of infected people, thereby preventing liver disease and liver cancer. Individuals at risk for hepatitis B and hepatitis C should be tested, and those who are chronically infected should be linked to medical care and treatment to prevent related sickness and death.
Hepatitis Testing Day timeline
Dr. Baruch Blumberg discovers Hepatitis B and is awarded a Nobel Prize.
Hepatitis C is discovered but is initially called Non-A, Non-B hepatitis.
The first-ever Hepatitis Testing Day takes place.
The first Hepatitis Testing Day is held in the United States.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Hepatitis Testing Day
Local businesses, especially pharmacies, clinics, and community health centers, can play a crucial role in observing Hepatitis Testing Day. They can offer free or subsidized hepatitis testing, host informational sessions, or distribute educational brochures about liver health and the different types of hepatitis. Partnering with local health organizations can amplify their impact, helping to reach more individuals and encourage proactive health screening within the community.
Hepatitis Testing Day FAQs
When is Hepatitis Testing Day?
In 2027, Hepatitis Testing Day falls on a Wednesday, May 19. This consistent date provides a yearly reminder for individuals to prioritize their health and seek out crucial screenings.
How many people are affected by hepatitis?
The World Health Organization estimates that over 300 million people worldwide are living with viral hepatitis, with a significant number undiagnosed. Early testing is vital to identify these cases and prevent further transmission and severe liver disease.
What are the different types of hepatitis?
Each type of hepatitis virus (A, B, C, D, E) has distinct modes of transmission and clinical outcomes. Hepatitis B and C are particularly concerning due to their potential to cause chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer if left untreated.
Why is hepatitis testing important?
Getting tested for hepatitis is a key step in protecting your liver health and the health of your community. Knowing your status enables access to effective treatments and vaccinations, helping to reduce the global burden of hepatitis-related illness and mortality.
How to Observe Hepatitis Testing Day
Recognize your exposure to risk
If you are at risk of hepatitis B or hepatitis C, use simple online tools to discover a nearby provider of hepatitis B or C vaccination or testing. Make use of these resources to spread the word about the disease to your friends and loved ones. Read to learn everything you need to know about hepatitis B — from its definition to who gets it and probable symptoms — starting with the basics.
Take advantage of available resources
Seeking out community support may prove beneficial to you. You can become a member of “Hep B Community” — an online global community committed to providing support to anyone who has been afflicted by hepatitis B infection or additional support groups.
Share on social media
Don't forget to share about the Hepatitis Testing Day online. This also helps raise awareness of hepatitis testing to a wider audience.
5 Interesting Facts About Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
When a person consumes food or water that has been contaminated with the feces of an infected person, hepatitis A is most often transmitted.
Hepatitis B and C
Hepatitis B, as well as C, can be transmitted through close contact with the blood of an infected person, such as during sex, the sharing of syringes and needles, or childbirth, among other things.
Hepatitis A infections
Around 25,000 people are infected with hepatitis A every year in the United States.
Hepatitis B and C infections
In the United States, it is believed that more than 3.5 million and 850,000 persons, respectively, are infected with hepatitis C and B.
Hepatitis B test
The hepatitis B blood test involves only a single sample of blood, and your health care practitioner should request the ‘Hepatitis B Panel,’ which consists of three different tests for the virus.
Why Hepatitis Testing Day is Important
It encourages testing
The day encourages people to test for hepatitis. There are several types of Hepatitis such as A, B, C, and D with different modes of transmission so it is important to get tested. If you are unsure of your infection status, get tested immediately.
It raises awareness
It is our goal to increase public knowledge of viral hepatitis and encourage people to find out whether they have the disease. It is estimated that more than half of people living with viral hepatitis in the United States are unaware of their infection status.
Protects others from becoming infected
Blood and bodily fluids can be used to spread hepatitis B, however, there is a safe and effective vaccine that can keep loved ones from contracting the disease. It makes people conscious of how to safeguard their loved ones to avoid spreading the virus to other members of their family and household, as well as to sexual partners.
Social Media Tips for Hepatitis Testing Day
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