Mission

The Division of Viral Hepatitis is the Public Health Service component that provides the scientific and programmatic foundation for the prevention, control, and elimination of hepatitis virus infections in the United States, and assists the international public health community in these activities.

To achieve its mission, DVH:

1. conducts surveillance and special studies to determine the epidemiology and disease burden associated with acute and chronic infections and liver disease associated with hepatitis viruses;
2. conducts epidemiologic and laboratory studies, including outbreak investigations, to determine risk factors for transmission of infections with hepatitis viruses, define the natural history and pathogenesis of these infections, and determine their health impact;
3. conducts epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, behavioral, and health communications research to develop and evaluate methods and strategies for the prevention of infections with hepatitis viruses and their acute and chronic disease consequences;
4. develops, implements, communicates and evaluates recommendations and standards for the prevention and control of infections and liver disease associated with hepatitis viruses;
5. provides technical and programmatic leadership and assistance to state and local health departments, non-governmental organizations and the international community to develop, implement and evaluate programs to prevent infections with hepatitis viruses and their consequences, including immunization to prevent hepatitis A and eliminate transmission of hepatitis B virus infection, the prevention and control of hepatitis C virus infection through counseling and testing and the prevention of transmission of bloodborne virus infections, including hepatitis viruses, through improved medical practices to reduce the frequency of unsafe injections and the improvement of the safety of blood transfusions;
6. provides the leadership and coordination required to integrate viral hepatitis prevention and control activities into other prevention programs conducted by CDC, other Federal agencies and health care providers;
7. conducts laboratory, clinical and epidemiologic studies to develop and evaluate methods for the diagnosis of infections with hepatitis viruses;
8. identifies and characterizes agents and host factors associated with hepatitis and acute and chronic liver disease;
9. provides epidemic aid, epidemiologic and laboratory consultation, reference diagnostic services and technical assistance to state and local health departments, other federal agencies, other components of CDC, and national and international health organizations;
10. disseminates information through health communications materials, tools and programs, scientific publications and presentations;
11. provides training opportunities for Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers and others in CDC sponsored programs, including postgraduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and other public health and laboratory scientists; and
12. serves as a WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis.

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This page last reviewed October 1, 2004

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Division of Viral Hepatitis
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Infectious Diseases

US Department of Health and Human Services

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