Hepatitis A
Version: November 2025
Introduction
Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection caused by the Hepatovirus A, a member of the picornavirus family. It is primarily transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or direct contact with an infectious person. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, and gastrointestinal issues. Though it can cause acute liver inflammation, Hepatitis A generally does not result in chronic liver disease, with most patients recovering fully over time. The infection can be prevented through vaccination and improved sanitation practices. Effective global vaccination programs have significantly reduced its prevalence worldwide.
Highlights
- Sharp Increase in Early 2025: Cases spiked in January 2025 at 2293, suggesting a potential outbreak or increased transmission.
- Declining Trend Post-March 2025: After peaking in March with 1919 cases, numbers fell to 1062 by November, indicating improved control or seasonal factors.
- Low Mortality: The mortality rate remains low across the years, reflecting effective healthcare responses and reduced severity of cases.
- Long-term Decrease Since 2015: Over the years, cases have decreased from over 1900 monthly in late 2015 to just over 1000 by November 2025, showing long-term disease management success.
Analysis
Cases Analysis
The Hepatitis A trend in the Chinese mainland from 2015 to 2025 exhibits fluctuations, notably with decline and resurgence periods. Initially, from November 2015 to December 2019, case numbers showed variation with peaks and troughs. In 2015, cases were generally higher, peaking at 1974 in December, with fluctuations below 2000 in 2016, gradually reducing towards the end of 2019. While some monthly peaks over 2000 occurred, overall, there was a downward trend, suggesting improved public health measures or increased awareness.
From 2020, a consistent declining trend emerges, reaching a low in December 2022, with 532 cases reported. Throughout this phase, cases often remained below 1500, signaling ongoing successful containment strategies. Importantly, the death toll decreased, indicating better healthcare responses and potentially improved patient outcomes. However, starting in 2024, there is a marked increase, peaking at 2293 cases in January 2025, suggesting resurgence. This hints at factors such as changes in population immunity or shifts in public health policies. This recent increase underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and adaptable health strategies. Overall, while data shows past efforts in managing Hepatitis A transmission were largely effective, the rise in cases highlights the need for vigilant public health practices.
Deaths Analysis
The data provided reflects a detailed timeline of Hepatitis A cases and associated deaths in mainland China from November 2015 through November 2025. Across this timeframe, the number of reported cases varied, with fluctuations that show a general decline from a peak in earlier years, tapering through subsequent years. The peak in cases can be observed in 2019, where the highest individual month recorded 2,203 cases in July. In terms of overall trends, despite occasional rises, notably in early 2023 and 2024, the general trajectory for cases is downward by the end of the dataset in 2025.
Regarding deaths, they remained relatively low in comparison to the number of cases, with most months reporting zero deaths. The highest number of monthly deaths recorded throughout the period was four, observed in December 2015. It is notable that the dataset shows occasional months with fatalities dispersed throughout the timeline, yet with no continuous months showing repeated high numbers. This suggests that while Hepatitis A is present in mainland China, its impact in terms of mortality has been relatively contained, likely due to effective public health strategies and healthcare interventions that mitigate the severest outcomes of the disease. This pattern of sporadic deaths amidst varying case numbers reinforces the importance of continued monitoring and public health measures tailored to address and manage Hepatitis A effectively.