DHS Releases Viral Hepatitis Elimination Plan, Launches Dashboard to Track Progress

This Hepatitis Awareness Month, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is announcing a plan to eliminate viral hepatitis and a public dashboard to track progress of the plan’s goals.

The plan aims to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030 and was based off the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan goals. The plan was created in collaboration with key partners including community-based organizations, local and Tribal health departments, and health care providers. It will guide statewide efforts to improve testing, vaccination, and treatment of hepatitis A, B, and C to reduce death and illness associated with viral hepatitis infection. The plan outlines how DHS will collaborate with partners across Wisconsin and develop new partnerships to focus efforts on populations that are disproportionately affected by viral hepatitis.

In addition, a public dashboard is now available to track statewide progress towards the elimination plan’s goals. It includes data on hepatitis A, B, and C. The dashboard will be updated annually and will analyze data from several data sources, including public health disease data, the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR), and Wisconsin Vital Records.

“We are proud to launch this statewide plan to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. This plan will guide our efforts to make hepatitis A, B, and C testing, vaccination, and treatment more accessible, especially for the Wisconsin residents most at risk,” said State Health Officer Paula Tran. “Viral hepatitis affects thousands of Wisconsinites each year, and many don’t know that they’re impacted by these conditions. With preventative vaccines available for hepatitis A and B and curative treatment available for hepatitis C, viral hepatitis elimination is possible in Wisconsin.”

Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It can be caused by several different viruses, including hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The CDC estimates that nearly four million Americans are currently living with chronic hepatitis C; in Wisconsin that number is estimated at 47,000. Viral hepatitis infections often do not have symptoms, and many do not know they are infected until later, more serious stages if the disease. Getting tested is the only way to know if you have hepatitis.

Hepatitis A and B are preventable through vaccination. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C, but it can be cured with medication in 8 to 12 weeks. Unlike hepatitis A, which primarily spreads through contaminated food or kitchen preparation areas, hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood-to-blood contact and can become chronic, years-long infections.

Wisconsinites can protect their health by:

• Getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B.
• Talking with health care providers about getting tested for hepatitis B and C. It is recommended everyone 18 years of age and older get tested for hepatitis B and C at least once in their lifetime and for pregnant people to get tested for hepatitis B and C during every pregnancy.

View the Hepatitis Elimination Plan and dashboard on Wisconsin’s Viral Hepatitis Infection: Elimination Plan webpage. Find information about hepatitis on the DHS Viral Hepatitis webpage.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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