Hepatitis Awareness Month: A Silent Threat in Latino Health

By Cesar Rolon

When Silence Becomes Dangerous

Hepatitis B and C are known as “silent infections”—and for too many Latinos, they remain undiagnosed until it's too late. The viruses can quietly damage the liver for years, causing cirrhosis, liver cancer, or complete liver failure, all without obvious symptoms.

May marks Hepatitis Awareness Month, and it’s a time to speak loudly about a condition that hides in the shadows—especially among older Latino adults. For many in our community, the first time they hear the word “hepatitis” is after receiving a life-altering diagnosis.

Why Hepatitis Is a Hidden Crisis in Latino Communities

🔍 Latinos Are Disproportionately Affected

• Latinos are more likely to die from viral hepatitis-related liver disease than non-Hispanic whites.

• Rates of hepatitis C are increasing among Latino baby boomers and older adults who may have been infected decades ago through medical procedures, tattoos, shared razors, or unsterilized equipment—without ever knowing.

• Many immigrant Latinos arrive from regions where hepatitis B is endemic but have never been tested or vaccinated.

  
  

“I never felt sick. Maybe tired sometimes. But when they told me I had liver damage from hepatitis C, I couldn’t believe it,” says Guillermo, 67, from El Paso. “I had no symptoms. None.”

Cultural Silence and Stigma

In many Latino households, hepatitis is associated with shame, assumed to be tied to drug use, promiscuity, or “bad behavior.” These assumptions not only reinforce stigma but deter people from getting tested—especially elders, who may believe they have nothing to worry about.

Older adults often feel embarrassed or confused when asked to screen for a disease they don't fully understand. Conversations about liver health, past exposures, or sexual history are often avoided due to deep-rooted cultural taboos.

“My mom said, ‘Why would I get tested? I’m not that kind of person,’” shared Ana, a caregiver in Chicago. “She didn’t realize she could’ve gotten it from a dental procedure in the 1970s.”

Lack of Screening and Vaccination

Despite recommendations from the CDC for all adults to be tested for hepatitis B and C at least once in their lives, especially those born between 1945–1965, many Latino adults have never been offered a test by their doctors.

• Many older Latinos don’t have primary care or rely on clinics that don’t regularly test for hepatitis.

• Language barriers and lack of translated health information mean many don’t understand their risk.

• The hepatitis B vaccine, widely available today, was not routine in many Latin American countries or in the U.S. until the 1990s.

  
  

What’s at Stake: From Infection to Liver Failure

Hepatitis B and C attack the liver over time. Without treatment or monitoring, they can lead to:

• Chronic fatigue

• Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)

• Liver cancer

• Liver transplant or death

  
  

The tragedy? Most of this is preventable. Modern medicine offers:

• A cure for hepatitis C

• Vaccines for hepatitis A and B

• Antiviral treatment for chronic hepatitis B

  
  

But prevention only works if people know their status.

What Latino Families Need to Know

1. Anyone over 30 should get tested at least once.Especially those born before 1965, people who had blood transfusions before 1992, or those from regions with high hepatitis B rates.

2. Hepatitis doesn’t always show symptoms.You can feel perfectly fine for years and still have advanced liver damage.

3. You can’t assume you’re not at risk.Medical equipment, sharing razors, unscreened blood transfusions, or unprotected sex decades ago could have exposed you.

4. Testing is quick and simple.A blood test can confirm if you’ve ever been infected, are currently infected, or need vaccination.

   
   

Breaking the Silence: Community-Based Solutions

Trusted Messengers Matter

Organizations like the Latino Commission on AIDS and local promotoras de salud are leading efforts to bring testing and information to where our communities feel safe:

• Churches

• Senior centers

• Community fairs

• Barbershops and beauty salons

  
  

Events like National Hispanic Hepatitis Awareness Day (May 15) provide:

• Free and confidential testing

• Bilingual resources

• Access to clinics that offer hepatitis care and vaccines

• Educational workshops that confront myths and reduce stigma

  
  

Culturally Competent Campaigns

Campaigns like “No más silencio” and “Conoce tu hígado” aim to normalize screening and encourage intergenerational conversations about liver health. These campaigns stress that asking for a test is not shameful—it’s smart and life-saving.

Resources for Latino Communities

• Latino Commission on AIDS – Hepatitis Programs: www.latinoaids.org

• CDC Hepatitis Information (Spanish): www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/spanish

• National Hispanic Hepatitis Awareness Day Toolkit: Available from hepatitisCmsg.org

• Local Federally Qualified Health Centers: Offer hepatitis screenings and vaccines, often free or sliding scale

A Call to Action: Protect Your Liver, Protect Your Life

This May, let’s do more than just raise awareness—let’s break generational silence around a disease that’s claiming too many Latino lives.

Encourage your parents, tíos, abuelas, and elders in your community to get tested. Host conversations about liver health at your next family dinner, church group, or wellness event. And remind your loved ones: knowing your hepatitis status is not shameful—it’s powerful.

Because when our communities can breathe easier, move freely, and live longer, we all thrive.