Integrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance & Prevention for Health Departments

Overview

The goal of IVHSP is to reduce the burden of viral hepatitis in corresponding jurisdictions. In 2021, CDC awarded the first year of funding. Awardees are working to:

• Increase the capacity of states, territories, and large cities to detect and respond to viral hepatitis outbreaks.
• Collect and analyze data to inform the development and implementation of public health interventions to prevent and control viral hepatitis.
• Support viral hepatitis elimination planning.
• Maximize access to viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment.

In 2023, CDC awarded Supplemental Component (SC) 1 funding to two jurisdictions to increase the early detection and interruption of hepatitis C outbreaks and transmission clusters. This is accomplished by routine review of surveillance data and by conducting laboratory testing, both of which are elements in hepatitis C outbreak response plans.

CDC also awarded SC 2 funding to eight jurisdictions to increase hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis and treatment. This is accomplished by providing routine testing, prevention, and linkage to treatment in high-impact settings.

Outcomes

Expected IVHSP outcomes include:

• Improved surveillance for viral hepatitis.
• Increased stakeholder engagement in viral hepatitis elimination planning.
• Improved access to viral hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment among at-risk populations.

CDC has awarded supplemental funding for surveillance and prevention activities in two jurisdictions under SC 1 and in eight jurisdictions under SC 2. The expected outcomes from IVHSP supplement include:

• Improving outbreak response capacity through targeted prevention and control measures.
• Increasing access to complete HBV and/or HCV testing among persons receiving services in high-impact settings.
• Increased linkage to treatment and care for people with HBV and/or HCV infection.

How it's funded

The IVHSP program for health departments is a 5-year cooperative agreement with multiple components.

Estimated total funding over 5 years is $341 million.

Estimated funding is broken down by components:

• Component 1 is for surveillance: $132 million
• Component 2 is for prevention: $127 million
• Component 3 is for special projects for people who inject drugs (PWID): $83 million pending the availability of funds

CDC awarded first year of funding in May 2021.

Approximate 1-year award amounts:

• Component 1 is for surveillance: $200,000
• Component 2 is for prevention: $115,000
• Component 3 is for special projects for PWID: $286,228

Funding recipients

The IVHSP special projects for PWID program works to improve access to services for PWID in settings disproportionately affected by drug use. Funding for this program also supports prevention services and interventions that address emerging issues related to drug use (contingent on available funding).

Program components and strategies

Awardees are implementing key strategies under each component of the cooperative agreement to achieve IVHSP goals.

Component 1: Outbreak response and surveillance activities

Strategies for outbreaks and surveillance

• 1.1: Develop, implement, and maintain a plan to rapidly detect and respond to outbreaks of hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
• 1.2: Systematically collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate data to characterize trends and implement public health interventions for hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, and acute and chronic hepatitis C.
• 1.3: Systematically collect, analyze, interpret, and disseminate data to characterize trends and implement public health interventions for chronic hepatitis B and perinatal hepatitis C (contingent on available funding).

Component 2: Prevention activities

Strategies for prevention

• 2.1: Support viral hepatitis elimination planning and surveillance and maximize access to testing, treatment, and prevention.
• 2.2: Increase access to hepatitis B and hepatitis C testing and referral to care in high-impact settings (contingent on available funding).
• 2.3: Improve access to services preventing viral hepatitis among PWID (contingent on available funding).

Component 3: Special projects

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment related to the infectious disease consequences of drug use.

Strategies for special projects

• 3.1: Improve access to services for PWID in settings disproportionately affected by drug use.
• 3.2: Implement prevention services and interventions to address emerging issues related to drug use (contingent on available funding).

Supplemental components (SC)

SC 1

Integrating genomic and epidemiologic surveillance for outbreak detection and response.

Strategies for supplement for genomic surveillance

• SC 1.1: Develop system for integrating genomic and epidemiologic surveillance for detection of HCV transmission clusters and for public health response in the jurisdiction.
• SC 1.2: Build jurisdictional capacity to integrate genomic surveillance into the existing epidemiological surveillance of HCV infections.
• SC 1.3: Assess effectiveness of integrated genomic and epidemiologic surveillance to improve identification of HCV transmission networks.

SC 2

Increasing access to hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C testing and linkage to care in high-impact settings.

Strategies for testing and linkage to care

• SC 2.1: Increase routine HBV and/or HCV testing in high-impact settings.
• SC 2.2: Provide counseling, linkage to treatment, and referral to prevention services in high-impact settings.
• SC 2.3: Build public health laboratory capacity for HBV and/or HCV testing (optional).

Contacts

For questions regarding IVHSP health department partners, please refer to the health department contacts in the table below.

Resources

• Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention Funding for Health Departments | CDC
  • This resource provides answers to several frequently asked questions about the IVHSP program.
• Reference Documents for Hepatitis Surveillance and Prevention Funding for Health Departments | CDC
  • This is a repository for reference documents related to the IVHSP funding announcements.