6 Fast Facts About Hepatitis B

HBV is a major global health problem. Worldwide, some 887,000 people died from HBV-related liver disease in 2015. Between 850,000 and 2.2 million people in the United States (U.S.) are thought to be living with chronic HBV infection.

For most adults, HBV is a short-term illness that causes no permanent damage, but 2 to 6 percent of adults infected will develop a chronic infection that can potentially lead to liver cancer. Around 90 percent of infants with the virus will develop chronic infection.

* Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a virus that is spread through blood and other bodily fluids.

* Symptoms affect some people for a short time, but others will develop chronic symptoms and complications that can be fatal.

* Up to 2.2 million people in the United States (U.S.) have chronic HBV infection.

* Many cases go unreported or remain undiagnosed until a person shows signs of end-state liver disease.

* HBV can survive for up to 7 days outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces.

* Since 1991, all infants in the U.S. have been vaccinated against HBV..