New York State Department of Health Recognizes May As Hepatitis Awareness Month
An Estimated Half of New Yorkers Living with Hepatitis C are Unaware of Their Status
New Hepatitis C Testing Technology Provides Hepatitis C Diagnosis in Less Than One Hour
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 16, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes May as Hepatitis Awareness Month and reaffirms its commitment to eliminating hepatitis C. Although there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, treatment is available that is easy to take and cures most people in as little as eight weeks.
"If left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious long-term complications, including liver failure and even death," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "While there is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C, the good news is it is curable. Because the virus often has no symptoms in the beginning, a blood test is the most reliable way to be sure. If you test positive, effective treatment is available and works well."
While curative treatment is available for hepatitis C, large gaps in testing and treatment persist, driven by misinformation about treatment, stigma and other social determinants of health. Of the estimated 116,000 people living with hepatitis C in New York State, half are unaware of their infection and therefore do not benefit from available curative treatment.
The first step toward hepatitis C treatment and cure is testing. Last June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a point of care hepatitis C diagnostic test, the first of its kind for hepatitis C in the United States. The Cepheid GeneXpert® Xpress allows for non-medical personnel to collect blood through a fingerstick and give results in less than one hour.
Colleen Flanigan, Director, Bureau of Hepatitis Health Care and Epidemiology said, "To support the Department in its goal to eliminate hepatitis C, NYS plans to invest in this new technology by providing funding to purchase the instrument and supplies to each Drug User Health Hub, syringe service programs, hepatitis C care and treatment and opioid treatment programs currently funded by the AIDS Institute to provide hepatitis C services. With a rapid diagnosis, hepatitis C treatment can begin as soon as same day of diagnosis for many."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York State recommend that every adult get tested for hepatitis C at least once in their lifetime, pregnant people get tested during each pregnancy and everyone with ongoing risk factors get tested regularly.
The Department works with community-based organizations across New York State to increase access to hepatitis C testing and treatment. The Department's AIDS Institute provides funding for patient navigation and linkage to care supports to help people with hepatitis C overcome barriers to engaging in care and curative treatment.
What individuals can do:
In November 2021, New York State released its Hepatitis C Elimination Plan and joined the global public health effort in a commitment to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. The plan outlines a set of recommendations to address the inequities that sustain the hepatitis C epidemic in New York State.
