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Hepatitis B Information for the Public
Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease caused by the HBV virus.
Hepatitis B can range from a mild, short-term illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection.
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Transmission (Spread)
Hepatitis B is spread when blood, semen, or certain other body fluids – even in microscopic amounts – from a person infected with HBV enter the body of someone who is not infected.
Although anyone can get hepatitis B, certain life circumstances, jobs, and behaviors can increase your risk.
HBV can be passed from mother to baby at birth.
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Prevent
The best way to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. You need to get all doses in the series to be fully protected.
CDC recommends the following groups get vaccinated against hepatitis B:
- All infants.
- All children and adolescents younger than 19 who have not been vaccinated.
- Adults ages 19–59.
- Adults ages 60 and older at higher risk for hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B vaccine is usually given as 2, 3, or 4 shots.
- First dose: Birth
- Next doses: 1 month, 2 months, or 6 months (depending on brand).
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Signs and Symptoms
Many people with chronic hepatitis B don’t have symptoms and don’t know they are infected.
If symptoms occur with an acute infection, they can appear any time between 8 weeks to 5 months after exposure.
Symptoms usually last several weeks, but some people can feel sick for as long as 6 months.
Symptoms of acute hepatitis B can include:
- Dark urine or clay-colored stools
- Feeling tired
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
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Risk of Disease
3,192 cases of Hepatitis B were reported to public health officials in the U.S. in 2019.
There were approximately 20,700 total cases in the U.S. in 2019. This includes cases not reported to health officials.
2022 Hepatitis B Surveillance Report (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Learn more about specific risk factors for hepatitis B:
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Reporting
Hepatitis B is a notifiable disease. A notifiable disease is one that doctors must report to state or local public health officials.
Public health officials track some diseases because they can spread easily, are serious, or happen often.
Notifiable diseases in Michigan:
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Condition
Michigan's List of Notifiable Diseases 2025 By Pathogen -
Questions About
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For More Information
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Hepatitis B: The Disease & Vaccines (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia)
The Dangers of Hepatitis B (MDHHS)
Video: The Life-Saving Hepatitis B Vaccine (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences (immunize.org)
How Vaccines Work
Video: How Do Vaccines Work? (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Spanish version: ¿Cómo funcionan las vacunas? (American Academy of Pediatrics) -
Access Your Immunization Record
If you have been immunized in the State of Michigan, you may be able to download your immunization record from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR).
Visit the Michigan Immunization Portal to learn more or contact your healthcare provider.