Hepatitis Testing Day 2023: Every year on May 19, Hepatitis Testing Day is observed to raise awareness and encourage people to get tested for viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that can contribute to a variety of health complications, including liver cancer. Strains A, B, C, D, and E of the hepatitis virus are the most prevalent in the population. Hepatitis B and C are the primary cause of death, accounting for 1,3 million deaths annually across the globe. To save lives, we must improve preventive care, diagnostics, and awareness. Perform your duties and be evaluated.
HISTORY OF HEPATITIS TESTING DAY
Hepatitis Testing Day is a crucial occasion for individuals from all walks of life to educate their constituents and communities about viral hepatitis and encourage those at risk to be tested. Hepatitis Testing Day was first observed in 2012 to raise awareness about the latent pandemic of viral hepatitis in the United States. In 2013, Hepatitis Testing Day became a national holiday.
Hepatitis B affects approximately 862,000 individuals, while hepatitis C affects approximately 2.4 million. The majority of chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus carriers do not exhibit symptoms until the later phases of infection. As a result, many Americans with viral hepatitis are unaware of their condition, placing them at risk for serious, even fatal, complications and the transmission of the virus. In the United States, untreated chronic viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver malignancy and the most common reason for liver transplantation. Available treatments for hepatitis B can prevent the development of liver disease and liver malignancy. Hepatitis C is the infectious disease responsible for the most fatalities in the United States.
More than 95% of infected individuals can be cured of hepatitis C in as little as eight to twelve weeks with safe and effective oral treatments, thereby preventing liver disease and liver malignancy. Those at risk for hepatitis B and hepatitis C should be screened, and those who are chronically infected should receive medical care and treatment to prevent illness and mortality.
HOW TO OBSERVE HEPATITIS TESTING DAY
Recognise your risk exposure
If you are at risk for hepatitis B or hepatitis C, you can use basic online tools to locate a local provider of vaccination or testing for hepatitis B or C. Utilise these resources to inform your peers and family members about the disease. Learn everything you need to know about hepatitis B, beginning with the fundamentals, including its definition, who is susceptible, and likely symptoms.
Utilise readily available resources
Seeking out community support could prove advantageous. You can join “Hep B Community,” an online global community dedicated to providing support to anyone who has been infected with hepatitis B or other support groups.
Share via social networks
Don’t neglect to spread the word online about Hepatitis Testing Day. This also serves to increase public awareness of hepatitis testing.
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5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HEPATITIS
A Hepatitis
Hepatitis A is typically transmitted when a person consumes food or water that has been contaminated with the faeces of an infected person.
Viruses B and C
Hepatitis B and C can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s blood, such as during sex, the sharing of syringes and needles, and childbirth.
Infectious Hepatitis A
Every year, approximately 25,000 individuals are infected with hepatitis A in the United States.
Hepatitis B and C diseases
It is estimated that more than 3.5 million and 850,000 Americans are infected with hepatitis C and B, respectively.
Hepatitis B screening
The hepatitis B blood test only requires a single blood sample, and your doctor should order the ‘Hepatitis B Panel,’ which includes three separate tests for the virus.
WHY HEPATITIS TESTING DAY IS IMPORTANT
It promotes research
The day encourages individuals to undergo hepatitis testing. There are numerous varieties of hepatitis, including A, B, C, and D, each with a unique mode of transmission, so it is essential to be tested. If you are unsure of your infection status, you should promptly undergo testing.
It elevates consciousness
Our mission is to increase public awareness of viral hepatitis and encourage individuals to test for the disease. More than half of those living with viral hepatitis in the United States are estimated to be oblivious of their infection status.
Protects others from contracting the disease
Blood and other bodily fluids can be used to transmit hepatitis B, but a safe and effective vaccine can protect loved ones from contracting the disease. It educates individuals on how to protect their loved ones in order to prevent the spread of the virus to their family, household, and sexual companions.
HEPATITIS TESTING DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 19 | Friday |
| 2024 | May 19 | Sunday |
| 2025 | May 19 | Monday |
| 2026 | May 19 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | May 19 | Wednesday |
