The Arab Republic of Egypt Achieves Historic Gold Tier Certification in Hepatitis C Elimination
“Giza, Egypt, 9 October 2023…… The Arab Republic of Egypt has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first country worldwide to attain Gold tier certification on the path to eliminating Hepatitis C. This remarkable accomplishment is attributed to the immense effort, dedication, and commitment demonstrated at all levels, from the highest leadership of the presidency to the community, all working collaboratively to eliminate this disease as a public health threat.”
Fralin Biomedical Research Institute researchers take on public health challenge of hepatitis C
“Through a CDC grant in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, researchers in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC will implement routine surveillance and laboratory testing of hepatitis C in high-impact settings and provide genomic sequencing of viral hepatitis samples provided by the commonwealth. They will upload data and report sequencing results with a rapid turnaround in order to give state health workers a quick understanding of the severity and transmissibility of the virus.”
Antiviral Therapy Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with HCV
“Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) using antiviral therapy have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis. Antiviral therapy use was associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality, and peripheral artery disease.”
Wirral Ways becomes largest drug and alcohol service to achieve hepatitis C micro-elimination
“The team at the centre, which is part of the national health and social care charity Change Grow Live, has worked tirelessly to achieve this result by focusing on blood-borne virus (BBV) testing. The blood spot test checks for BBV such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV as those who inject drugs have an increased risk of contracting these viruses. Testing is vital as catching the virus early is crucial to fighting it with treatment. Wirral Ways has offered a BBV test to 100% of the people that use the service. Some 98.1% of those with a history of injecting have also been tested.”
Elimination means everyone: screening and management of hepatitis C in infants and children
“Since “elimination means seize every opportunity for treatment,” Jhaveri later turned to the adolescent population currently left out of screening recommendations. As teenage use of IVDU has steadily risen since 2011, providers at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital started adding on HCV PCR testing to lipid and HIV screening for adolescents, resulting in an increase in screening to 35%.”
SAMHSA Announces Nearly $35M in Grant Awards for Comprehensive Behavioral Health Care and HIV Prevention and Care for Historically Underserved Populations
“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded nearly $35 million in grant funding this month to bring essential behavioral health services and HIV prevention and care to historically underserved populations. Health equity remains a critical focus of the Biden-Harris Administration, and these funds represent the continued commitment by the administration to address and remedy inequity of care.”
Doctors, nurses and dentists at four Santa Fe clinics win union election
“On Wednesday morning, La Familia workers learned management and the clinic’s board of directors cut $2 million from the budget, and are immediately laying off 17 navigators and case managers who worked in the clinic’s medication assisted treatment and Hepatitis C programs.”
Yale researchers help create state’s first mobile pharmacy
“By the end of November, a fully functioning pharmacy on wheels will be on the streets in Waterbury, Connecticut. Founded by Sandra Springer, a professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, and her team, the “Integrated Mobile Opioid Treatment and Infectious disease cOordinated care in your Neighborhood,” also known as “InMOTION,” aims to bring a functioning pharmacy to people’s homes and make health care more accessible to Connecticut residents.”
Antidepressant use after diagnosis may reduce liver cancer mortality
“Key takeaways: Antidepressant use after liver cancer diagnosis linked to lower risk for overall and cancer-specific mortality. No association found between prediagnosis antidepressant use and mortality.”
#OctoberIs4Livers campaign aims to ‘turn the tide’ during Liver Cancer Awareness Month
“Liver Cancer Awareness Month, celebrated every October, seeks to raise awareness about the third deadliest cancer in the United States, with approximately 41,000 new cases and as many as 30,000 deaths each year.”
Compassion and science must lead in safe injection debate | Commentary
“Across Philadelphia, the overdose epidemic is ripping apart families and shattering lives. Marginalized communities suffer the most, perpetuating a cycle of suffering borne of generations of disinvestment and exacerbated by COVID-19. We must take a thoughtful and compassionate approach to addressing this crisis.”
