Acute Hepatitis C Surveillance
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) conducts surveillance for hepatitis C virus (HCV). Public health surveillance is defined as the ongoing, systematic collection of health data to:
- Monitor and clarify the epidemiology of reportable diseases
- Inform public health policy to identify priorities and strategies
- Document the impact of public health interventions and track progress towards specific goals
- Identify infected persons who may benefit from public health intervention and medical care
- Identify contacts of infected persons to refer for testing and/or post exposure prophylaxis
- Identify and interrupt disease transmission
Both medical providers and laboratories provide surveillance information to DPH and local health departments. Hepatitis C-related laboratory test results are reported by the laboratories and medical providers complete and submit a PD-23 Case Report Form.
Acute Hepatitis C
Acute HCV typically refers to infections diagnosed within a six-month window period that starts with the date of the presumed exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides specific clinical and laboratory criteria that constitute the acute hepatitis C case definition. Case definitions may change if new testing methods are developed or clinical evidence supports revision.
Acute HCV infections are usually short term. The CDC estimates that about 1 out of 4 people who are diagnosed with acute HCV will eventually clear the virus without treatment. Most people diagnosed with acute HCV will experience symptoms such as jaundice, vomiting, and/or fatigue within the six-month time frame following exposure.
Acute HCV, 5-Year Trend
From 2014 through 2018, 60 acute hepatitis C cases were identified. The highest annual number of cases (18) were reported in 2016.
Acute HCV by Sex and Race, 2014-2018
Over the 5-year period, slightly more females were reported than males. With regard to race and ethnicity, 80% of the total reported acute HCV cases (n=60) were White, non-Hispanic.
Hepatitis C is commonly associated with the "baby boomer" generation (defined as individuals born between 1946 and 1964 during the post-World War II baby boom). HCV testing is recommended for this population to identify undiagnosed chronic, or long-term, HCV infection. It is estimated that there are between 2.7 and 3.9 million people in the United States with chronic HCV infection and up to 75% may not be aware of their HCV status.
Acute HCV by Age Group, 2014-2018
The age-groups below represent numbers of acute, or recent, HCV infections diagnosed and reported to DPH between 2014 and 2018. Most acute HCV cases occurred in the 20-29 year age group (N=27, 45%) and the 30-39 year age group (N=18, 30%).
For additional Connecticut HCV surveillance data, please visit the Hepatitis C Statistics web page.
Additional Hepatitis C Resources
HepVu (Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in partnership with Gilead Sciences)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral Hepatitis