Educate and inform the public about prevention for the three forms of hepatitis

Educate and inform those with the virus about treatment options

Reach people through support systems that show them that we need to work together

Hepatitis Ready Care-Facts

  • 10% of all veterans have hepatitis

  • Hepatitis C is 10x more infectious than HIV

  • But less infectious than hepatitis B

  • Almost two thirds of current injecting drug users have hepatitis and

  • 1/3 of all injecting drug users under the age of 25 have hepatitis

These facts point to the difficulty or testing, treatment and recognition of this disease:

  • A person who has tested positive for the hepatitis C virus can’t go forward with the treatment until they have additional blood tests. There are no government agencies or private resources in our area that will pay for these. Although they could be treated they can’t get into treatment because of this one step.

  • Eight out of ten people with hepatitis C are unaware they have it.
Transmission Risk

A time to be concerned would be if:

  • You have ever had any body piercing, tattoos, or manicures performed in conditions that are not sterile.

  • Hepatitis C is the leading cause for liver transplantation in adults.

  • You have shared a razor, a toothbrush, or nail clippers with an infected person.

  • You currently or have previous injected drugs-----if only once?

  • You have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis.

  • You have had vaccinations administered with pneumatic jet injectors.

  • You are a health care worker that has been exposed to needle sticks.

  • You are giving birth the risk of a pregnancy from mom to baby is 5%.

  • You served time in prison, the rate of infection goes up by 10-20% in prison.

 



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