Here’s a state snapshot from the report:
Oregon was ranked as the third worst U.S. state for hepatitis C deaths, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People in Oregon are 2.7 times more likely than people who live in other U.S. states to die from hepatitis C, according to the CDC. The Oregon Health Authority said hepatitis C is the leading cause of preventable death for reportable diseases in the state.
In Oregon, the rate of hepatitis-caused deaths is 6.76 per 100,000, in comparison to the nationwide average of 2.52 per 100,000.
That is the third-worst hepatitis C death rate in the nation, behind Oklahoma and the District of Columbia, according to the CDC’s 2023 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report and 2025 Viral Hepatitis National Progress Report.
In Oregon, hepatitis C is most common in people aged 20-29. Drug use produces the highest risk of infection. Black, American Indian and Alaska Native people are two times as likely to contract hepatitis C compared with the statewide average “due to systematic challenges increasing risk factors.”
“Injection drug use is the big exposure factor,” said Paul Cieslak, medical director for communicable diseases and immunizations at OHA’s Public Health Division. “It’s been estimated that over 2,000 hospitalizations in Oregon a year are attributable to hepatitis C.”
The Oregon Health Authority has emphasized a need for preventative measures, community-based screenings, and treatment services for the most affected populations.”
SOURCE: https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2025/06/21/cdc-ranks-oregon-3rd-worst-us-state-hepatitis-c-deaths/84234103007/