Hepatitis B Virus: A Comprehensive Strategy for Eliminating Transmission in the United States Through Universal Childhood Vaccination: Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP)

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00033405.htm

The acute and chronic consequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are major health problems in the United States. The reported incidence of acute hepatitis B increased by 37% from 1979 to 1989, and an estimated 200,000-300,000 new infections occurred annually during the period 1980- 1991. The estimated 1 million-1.25 million persons with chronic HBV infection in the United States are potentially infectious to others.  In addition, many chronically infected persons are at risk of long-term sequelae, such as chronic liver disease and primary hepatocellular carcinoma; each year approximately 4,000-5,000 of these persons die from chronic liver disease (1).