This May, Know Your Status: Hepatitis Awareness for People Living with HIV
Summary:
May marks Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day. For these 2026 observances, HIV.gov is highlighting the increased risk of hepatitis B and C among people living with HIV, and why knowing their status and getting tested is key for protecting their long-term health.
The month of May brings a special kind of energy. The weather is warming up, the days are longer, and there’s a natural pull toward getting outside, being active, and focusing on what matters—your health!
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month. If you’re living with HIV, then you may be at higher risk for also having hepatitis B or C. It’s a great time to learn about viral hepatitis and why you should get tested for it.
What Is Viral Hepatitis?
Viral hepatitis is a disease of the liver caused by a virus. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are among the most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States.
Every year, it is estimated that tens of thousands of people in the United States are newly infected with hepatitis B or C. But many people with chronic hepatitis B or C don’t know they’re infected because hepatitis infections may have no early symptoms. Most people never feel or look sick until the damage is done. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis B and C can lead to liver damage, liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death.
Your health care provider can help you know your hepatitis status. Knowing your status early allows you to get the right kind of care as soon as possible. Hepatitis C can be cured with oral medication in more than 95% of people in just 8 to 12 weeks, with very few side effects. Hepatitis B can be prevented and treated, but not cured, and your doctor can help you manage your care to prevent the risk of severe liver disease. There are several effective vaccines for hepatitis B, and people living with HIV are recommended to get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
HIV and the Increased Risk of Viral Hepatitis
Because hepatitis B and C can be spread in some of the same ways as HIV, people living with HIV are at a higher risk of co-infection. Nearly 75% of people living with HIV who report a history of injection drug use are also infected with hepatitis C.
For people living with HIV, hepatitis can progress faster and cause more serious health problems. That’s why knowing your status for both HIV and hepatitis is critical to protecting your long-term health.
Taking steps to prevent infection—and knowing your status for both HIV and hepatitis—helps ensure you can access treatment early and stay healthy.
Learn more about viral hepatitis among people living with HIV.
Who Should Get Tested for Hepatitis B and C?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends:
- One-time screening for each virus for all U.S. adults ages 18 and older.
- Screening during each pregnancy for all pregnant women.
- Periodic testing for anyone with ongoing risk factors, including people living with HIV.
- Anyone can request testing, regardless of risk factors.
Read more about who should get tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, according to CDC.
May Is the Month to Act
Talk to your health care provider about getting tested for hepatitis B and C, especially if you’re living with HIV or have other risk factors. To find a testing location near you, visit locator.hiv.gov.
This Hepatitis Awareness Month, don’t wait. Get tested. Know your status. Protect your liver, your health, and your future.