As a part of the Department of Health and Human Service
comprehensive viral hepatitis action plan developed last year, Saturday will
mark the first National Hepatitis Testing Day in the United States.
“This day is part of a larger government-wide
initiative to educate people about viral hepatitis and to encourage everyone to
talk to their health care provider about whether they are at risk,”
Howard Koh, MD, MPH, HHS assistant secretary for health, said in a
statement.
Howard Koh
According to the CDC, millions of people have chronic
viral hepatitis, but most are unaware of their infection. Testing for viral
hepatitis is the first step in linking people with hepatitis to recommended
care and treatment.
For more information about National Hepatitis Testing
Day, please visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.