Hepatitis C News Update

Making Hepatitis C care easier when treatment seems impossible “A health care team at Oregon Health & Science University is trying a different approach to caring for patients who have, or are at risk for, Hepatitis C, helping overcome barriers that can otherwise make receiving testing and treatment seem impossible.” Baby Boomers and Hepatitis C: High-Risk Group with Low Rate of Testing “Baby Boomers have been identified as a high risk group for Hepatitis C but only a small percentage have been tested. What are some of the reasons and what can be done to change that?” 4 Ways to Reduce Health Stigma and Why We Need To “Dealing with a health condition is difficult enough, but when the condition is stigmatized, it’s even harder. Stigma occurs when people assume someone caused their own illness by behaving irresponsibly or immorally. But no one should be blamed for a disease they didn’t choose to have.” Organization receives $169,000 for Hepatitis C care “Positive Resource Connection in Fort Wayne has received a $169,000 grant to expand Hepatitis C services in northeast Indiana, the organization announced Wednesday. The grant from Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis will allow the organization to hire two Hepatitis C care coordinators.” Project ECHO Recognized for Rural Partnerships “Specialized health care is scarce in rural communities. When treatment can’t be provided by a community doctor, patients are referred to hospitals that are often miles away. To assist these patients, Project ECHO connects medical practitioners working in remote areas with University of Utah Health specialists.” A check-in on LCDHD’s syringe exchange program “It has been some time since we checked in on the Lake Cumberland District Health Department’s Harm Reduction Syringe Exchange Program. The month of January saw 96 total visits with 58 repeat visitors and 12 new visitors in Russell County. A total of 3,270 syringes were dispensed and 3,907 collected for a 119 percent collection ratio.” Phoenix center reveals new harm reduction vending machine “SPRINGFIELD, Il. (WAND) – A new vending machine located right next to the Phoenix Center provides harm reduction materials like needles, fentanyl strips, and narcan. This is the newest part of the Springfield Harm Reduction Initiative. The Phoenix Center hopes by providing safe materials for those struggling with drug addiction, the number of HIV and Hepatitis cases will decrease. “Where we come in is creating safety in use,” said Sara Bowen, Assistant Director of the Phoenix Center.  “Like using new needles, not having abscesses, not sharing supplies with others who might have HIV or Hepatitis C, linking people to Hepatitis C treatment so that it doesn’t go from one person to next. There is a ton of safety in what we do and we will continue to do it.”” Video Hepatitis C cases grow amidst San Diego homeless population “SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – Another outbreak of hepatitis is spreading across San Diego, but this time it’s hepatitis C that’s making headlines. The sexually transmittable virus is also spreadable via injections and tattoo equipment. The outbreak is greatest in El Cajon where hundreds of the county’s homeless are being housed via homeless voucher programs.” Hepatitis C, The Disease, Epidemiology, Treatment, Eradication Part 2: Global Epidemiology “The World Health Organization currently estimates the global burden of Hepatitis C to be between 130 and 170 million people. Ideally, this figure, as well as stratifications by location, age, and gender, would be more precisely determined based on data from community-based studies.”