Hepatitis B is a serious global health problem and anyone can get it if they’re not vaccinated.
- The highest number of hepatitis B cases are found in people aged 25-44, followed by people in the 15-24 age group.1
- Additionally, men are more than two times more likely than women to become infected with hepatitis B.1
Where is Hepatitis B Most Prevalent?
Hepatitis B is more common in some parts of the world than others. In China and other parts of Asia up to10% of the population may be chronically infected2. In Europe and the Middle East the number of chronic hepatitis B cases is approximately 10 million3, with nearly 1 million new infections each year in Europe.4
In fact, 2 billion people have been exposed to the hepatitis B virus around the world.2 About 90% of them have the acute form of the disease from which they will fully recover.5 However, some 350 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis B, which means they may have it for the rest of their lives.2 More than 600,000 people worldwide die from the disease every year.2
In areas like North America and Western Europe, a smaller percentage of the population is infected with the hepatitis B virus. This is because most people in these areas are given a hepatitis B vaccine against the virus at birth.6
Could you be at risk?
Take the Hepatitis B Risk Assessment Test to find out if you are at risk for getting hepatitis B.
Anyone can become infected with the hepatitis B virus. Since hepatitis B is transmitted from person to person through blood and body fluids, there are several ways you can get hepatitis B.