HCMSG - Hepatitis C Mentor & Support Group, Inc.
Search
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • Medical Advisors
  • Resources
    • Corona Virus
    • Hep C Facts & Stats
    • Medications and Treatments >
      • Patient Assistance Programs
    • Reading
    • Links
  • Programs/Training
    • The Circle Model >
      • THE CIRCLE Registration
      • Group and Facilitator Guide
    • Hepatitis C Online Training
    • The Hepatitis C Education and Support Group Assistance Program
    • Healthcare Provider Training
  • Newsletter
  • Blog
  • Support Us
    • Holiday 2020
  • Contact Us

Baby boomers warned to get tested for Hep C while new epidemic grows in younger generation

10/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Hep C most prevalent in baby boomers
By Jackie Crea | Updated Oct. 25, 2017, 11:01 p.m. MDT

DENVER -- One in 30 baby boomers is infected with hepatitis C, and most don't even know it, according to a recent alarming statistic released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC officials say the disease, transmitted through blood, can survive for three weeks on surfaces at room temperature. According to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials, the number of cases in Colorado are increasing as well. 
Experts worry that baby boomers don't realize they have the disease, which is caused by a virus that attacks the liver. While doctors are trying to get a handle on one epidemic, another is developing that coincides with growing opioid abuse across the country.
Kimberley Bossley lost her mom to hepatitis C, but she's beat it too.
"There's really no words to say in the final hours, it's a painful disease. It's not a way to go,” said Bossley. "At birth, both my mom and I were infected during a blood transfusion, that later we learned in 2005 was tainted with hepatitis C."
Before the early 90's, blood supplies in the U.S. were not screened for hepatitis C. That's partly why two thirds of people living with the disease are baby boomers, according to Daniel Shodell, the Medical Director of Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology with CDHPE. CDC officials also say sharing needles or equipment used to prepare or inject drugs, even if only once in the past, could spread hepatitis C. 

"If we can diagnose and treat enough people with hepatitis C, what we are doing in technical terms is reducing the reservoir," said Shodell.
Part of the problem is that many people don't show symptoms until the late stages.
"Maybe 25 percent of people will show symptoms; fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, other symptoms, but most won’t know they've acquired hep C."
And for years, the treatments were almost unbearable. Bossley tried them until a clinical trial came through. Now there have been major advances made, but still a risk exists and is increasing as more cases pop-up with opioid abuse growing.

TO CONTINUE READING:​ http://amp.thedenverchannel.com/2382936869/baby-boomers-warned-to-get-tested-for-hep-c-while-new-epidemic-grows-in-younger-generation.html


0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Privacy Policy