The Viral Hepatitis Action Coalition is a public-private
partnership developed by the CDC Foundation to help the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) make meaningful
advances in the prevention, screening and treatment of viral
hepatitis. "Viral Hepatitis is a large and under-appreciated
problem in the United States," says Dr. John Ward, director of
CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis. "Approximately 5.3 million
persons are living with hepatitis, and CDC is particularly
concerned that most of those persons are unaware of their
infection, meaning they can unknowingly transmit these viruses
to others, and that they are not receiving the care they need
that could prevent the progression to liver disease, including
liver cancer, in later life." A report on hepatitis and liver
cancer issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2010
highlighted an overall lack of knowledge about the extent and
seriousness of viral hepatitis in the United States. The report
specifically called on CDC to work with partners