Select Page

A DEFENSE-LINKED CONTRACTOR TOOK OVER A SUCCESSFUL CDC ANTI-OVERDOSE INITIATIVE. IT IMPLODED IN A DAY.
“A GROUNDBREAKING Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative to support harm-reduction groups across the country fell apart this month after the program came under the control of a federal contractor that has done no public health work for the government.”

Study Highlights Lack of Hepatitis C Screening Despite Growing Prevalence
“Findings from a recent study of patients seen at a safety net hospital in New York between 2012 and 2019 are calling attention to low hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening rates among patients who met guideline-recommended birth year criteria, a common trend in community health centers across the US. Among more than 20,000 patients born between 1945 and 1965, 8.5% were screened for hepatitis C, 5.9% tested positive for HCV antibody, and 3.0% had an active infection, suggesting a need for broader screening initiatives and more focused resource allocation to decrease the burden of HCV.”

Patients with Hepatitis C Undergoing Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment Have a Lower SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rate
“This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 602 patients with first-time positive results for the HCV nucleic acid test between 1 May 2021 and 31 March 2023, exploring the association between DAA treatment and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results showed that 9.8% of HCV patients were co-infected with SARS-CoV-2. Gender, age, vaccination status, and HCV genotype did not significantly affect SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, patients undergoing DAA treatment showed significantly lower rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality compared to those not undergoing DAA treatment.”

Computational study of a co-infection model of HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C virus models
“HIV and HCV are microbes that cause huge interruptions and actuation of the immune system. This significant impact on the host’s immune system would make individuals contaminated with HCV more susceptible to HIV and the impacts of the infection. Because of their geographical overlap, there is no question that co-infection with HCV and HIV/AIDS can alter their development, as well as the severity and rate of progression of the disease since every one of these two significantly affects the invulnerable immune system. Increasing the rate of progression of either disease in the presence of the other may play an essential role in increasing the prevalence of the former. Mathematical models have been critical in understanding the spread of infectious diseases that are directly transmissible.”

Videos:

Practical Implementation of HCV Care
“The panelists offer practical tips on implementing HCV care into your clinical practice.”

Models of HCV Care
“Dr. Tipu Kahn gives an overview of various care models for HCV treatment.”