Livingston County Health Center will be
offering free Hepatitis C testing through the Missouri HepC Alliance beginning
January 16th by appointment.
The Missouri HepC Alliance is a community
focused nonprofit organization with a mission to create awareness through
providing education, testing and support for the detection, prevention and
treatment of hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C attacks the liver but can
remain without symptoms for decades. HCV is not vaccine preventable and is the
most common blood borne infection in the United States (U.S.).
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) an estimated 3-4 million persons in the U.S. have
chronic Hepatitis C virus infection. Most people do not know they are infected
because they don’t look or feel sick. Of those, it is estimated that 2.7
million are currently living with chronic HCV infection. HCV related Chronic
Liver Disease (CLD) is the leading indication for liver transplant among adults
in the United States.
HCV is most often spread by direct
blood-to blood contact. HCV is usually spread when blood from a person infected
with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. The
HCV can live in dried blood and on environmental surfaces for days. The virus
can be spread easily to others through blood, even in amounts too small to see.
Chronic hepatitis C infection has become a
critical, unrecognized health care problem. The HepC Alliance has found a
positive rate as high as 19% among people with risk factors, within the State
of Missouri population.
National statistics indicate the average
age of a person with HCV is 45-65 years old, however the average we found in
Missouri is 32.
This testing program is designed to reach
those individuals who are not aware they are at risk for HCV.
If you would like more information call the Health Center and speak with Sherry Weldon or Lori Murray or if you would like to be tested should
call 646-5506 to set up an appointment.
No comments:
Post a Comment