Feb 4, 2020,
Nina ShapiroContributor
Healthcare
Dispelling health myths, fads, exaggerations and misconceptions.
Baby boomers have gotten a lot of flack lately. Those born between 1945-1965, during the post-World War II years, many of who are entering retirement age, have been the subject of many a snarky millennial-driven meme. Not sure what a meme is? OK, Boomer, you need to Google that. You’re not sure what Google is? OK, Boomer. You still don’t get what “OK, Boomer” means? OK...
But all memes aside, and all acute devastating viruses aside, including influenza virus and the novel coronavirus, a more prevalent virus, which is hardly new, is wreaking havoc on baby boomers.
While many of the newer viruses can infect and affect anybody at any age, certain viruses, especially those prevented by widespread vaccination programs, have become infections of the past. Thanks to Dr. Jonah Salk, polio, a viral infection which decimated and paralyzed swaths of pre-boomer populations, is something most boomers never saw. But in the 1960’s-1980’s, the years before utilization of universal precautions and infection control in the healthcare setting, transmission of the Hepatitis C virus, via contaminated medical equipment, or by contact with contaminated blood products, led to easy transmission of this virus from either person to person or via contaminated needles or medical instruments. The virus can also be transmitted via sexual contact, with much higher incidence of transmission risk prior to more commonly used protection against more widely recognized sexually transmitted infections. While even back in those distant decades it would seem rare to have contact with contaminated medical supplies, the numbers declare otherwise, likely, in part, due to lesser use of condoms during sexual contact as well as substandard cleaning practices of medical instruments. Approximately one in thirty individuals born from 1945-1965 screen positive for Hepatitis C. Another way of looking at it shows that over 75% of those with Hepatatis C are baby boomers. Routine screening of blood products used for transfusion to eliminate transmission of Hepatitis C began in 1992.
TO CONTINUE READING: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ninashapiro/2020/02/04/baby-boomers-have-high-incidence-of-hepatitis-c-virus-what-does-this-mean-boomer/#37c3c82c103f
Nina ShapiroContributor
Healthcare
Dispelling health myths, fads, exaggerations and misconceptions.
Baby boomers have gotten a lot of flack lately. Those born between 1945-1965, during the post-World War II years, many of who are entering retirement age, have been the subject of many a snarky millennial-driven meme. Not sure what a meme is? OK, Boomer, you need to Google that. You’re not sure what Google is? OK, Boomer. You still don’t get what “OK, Boomer” means? OK...
But all memes aside, and all acute devastating viruses aside, including influenza virus and the novel coronavirus, a more prevalent virus, which is hardly new, is wreaking havoc on baby boomers.
While many of the newer viruses can infect and affect anybody at any age, certain viruses, especially those prevented by widespread vaccination programs, have become infections of the past. Thanks to Dr. Jonah Salk, polio, a viral infection which decimated and paralyzed swaths of pre-boomer populations, is something most boomers never saw. But in the 1960’s-1980’s, the years before utilization of universal precautions and infection control in the healthcare setting, transmission of the Hepatitis C virus, via contaminated medical equipment, or by contact with contaminated blood products, led to easy transmission of this virus from either person to person or via contaminated needles or medical instruments. The virus can also be transmitted via sexual contact, with much higher incidence of transmission risk prior to more commonly used protection against more widely recognized sexually transmitted infections. While even back in those distant decades it would seem rare to have contact with contaminated medical supplies, the numbers declare otherwise, likely, in part, due to lesser use of condoms during sexual contact as well as substandard cleaning practices of medical instruments. Approximately one in thirty individuals born from 1945-1965 screen positive for Hepatitis C. Another way of looking at it shows that over 75% of those with Hepatatis C are baby boomers. Routine screening of blood products used for transfusion to eliminate transmission of Hepatitis C began in 1992.
TO CONTINUE READING: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ninashapiro/2020/02/04/baby-boomers-have-high-incidence-of-hepatitis-c-virus-what-does-this-mean-boomer/#37c3c82c103f
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