Every year the virus will infect a new three hundred thousand people. There are currently one to two million chronic carriers of Hepatitis B. This means that one out of two hundred and forty people will become a carrier. As many as five thousand Americans die from Hepatitis B or its complications every year. (Hepatitis B Foundation Information, 1).
There are several groups of people who are at the highest risk of becoming infected with the Hepatitis B virus. Those sexually active adults and teenagers, especially those who have had more than one sexual partner in the last six months, those who have had unprotected sex, or those who have had, or are currently having a homosexual relationship. Those who are health, dental, and emergency care personnel because the virus is highly resilient. Adoptive families, especially those who plan to adopt children from Asia, parts of Africa, South America, and Eastern and Mediterranean Europe because they have the largest number of people infected with the disease. Those who are injecting, intravenous drug users. Those children born to a mother carrying the Hepatitis B virus. People, who get tattoos, ear piercings or other body piercings, with unsterile needles. People who plan to travel to high-risk countries which include places where over two percent of the population is infected with Hepatitis B. (Hepatitis B Foundation Information, 2).
Hepatitis B is caused by a virus and can be passed through blood, other bodily fluids, and contaminated needles. This can happen during sexual contact, sharing intravenous drug needles and cocaine tubes, sharing personal hygiene tools such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers; and from the blood of an injured person who has the Hepatitis B infection. It can survive in dried blood for a week and can be spread through only a single sexual encounter. (How to Avoid Hepatitis B & C, 1,2).
Hepatitis B is a public health problem because of the acute illness, the long-term disability, and the increased rate of liver cancer resulting from chronic infection.