CDC Publishes 2 Reports on Hepatitis Incidence Rates and Progress Towards 2025 Goals
“The federal agency’s reports shows decreases in both hepatitis A and B, but hepatitis C saw a significant increase during 2021. However, the investigators note the pandemic may have impacted statistics and progress towards goals.”
People Infected With Hepatitis C May Need the Hepatitis B Shot
“MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Patients with hepatitis C should consider being vaccinated again for hepatitis B, because their immune response to the initial shot may be inadequate, a new study suggests.”
DAA Treatment Improves Liver Function, Increases Risk of Anemia in Patients With HCV, Study Finds
“The liver function of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) improved while prevalence of anemia increased and fasting blood glucose level, hemoglobin A1C index, and renal function decreased after 12 weeks of treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA), according to findings from a recent study.”
Hepatitis C and Human Pegivirus Coinfection in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C from the Brazilian Amazon Region: Prevalence, Genotypes and Clinical Data
“Coinfection of HPgV-1 with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is common due to shared modes of transmission, with a prevalence of HPgV-1 viremia of approximately 20% among individuals with chronic HCV infection. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of HPgV-1 RNA and circulating genotypes in patients with hepatitis C from a health service located in the city of Belém, in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil.”
U of A team revamps Alberta’s prenatal hepatitis C screening program
“A University of Alberta team has revamped Alberta’s prenatal hepatitis C screening program based on their research, uncovering more new cases of the bloodborne viral infection and streamlining the path to care for mothers and babies. The researchers tested a new one-step blood screening tool, introduced a universal screening program and improved followup to ensure pregnant patients are connected with specialists, resulting in 59 per cent more cases of hepatitis C being identified for treatment.”
US Hepatitis C Elimination Plan
“To the Editor A recent Viewpoint1 identified American Indian and Alaska Native persons and non-Hispanic Black persons as groups disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus. We consider this a problematic classification.
When considering that American Indian and Alaska Native persons and non-Hispanic Black persons are also represented in the other named groups disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus, it would be more appropriate to identify the behavioral and/or structural qualifiers for hepatitis C risk, rather than those that are racially and ethnically based. Using racial and ethnic identifiers as an explanation for differences in disease prevalence reifies racial essentialism in medicine, despite behavioral and structural qualifiers (eg, lack of insurance) that appear to be more effective in explaining disparities in diseases.”
Southern Indian Health Council Addresses Syndemic in Rural California
“Federal leaders recently visited the Southern Indian Health Council (SIHC) in Alpine, CA, to observe its efforts to help end the HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and STI syndemic in Indian Country. SIHC is one of seven grantees in the Ending the HIV and HCV epidemics in Indian Country (ETHIC) Program, which is funded by the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, Minority HIV/AIDS Fund. The cooperative agreements include testing, treatment, prevention, and education services.”
