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HCV/Heroin Epidemic in Youth Nationwide: Cortland (NYS) sees spike in Hepatitis C in young drug users/new report
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Published: Friday, January 27, 2012, 5:39 PM, http://www.syracuse.com
HCV/Heroin Epidemic in Youth Nationwide - (05/07/11)
Law enforcement reporting from the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, New England, New York/New Jersey, Southeast, and West Central regions also suggests that heroin use is increasing, particularly among younger users....."an epidemic of HCV infection related to IDU among new populations of adolescents and young adults in Massachusetts
Changes in Blood-borne Infection Risk (HCV) Among Injection Drug Users - (02/05/11)
HCV Sexual Transmission among MSM HIV+ in the USA: "sexual transmission is likely to be responsible for incident HCV infection" in men - (02/05/11)
Most seroconverters were >40 years of age, consistent with the literature to date on sexually transmitted HCV infection among HIV-infected MSM. at-risk HIV-infected persons should have access to ongoing HCV surveillance
Sustained High Levels of HCV-infection Among IDUs in USA - Prevention of Hepatitis C Virus in Injecting Drug Users: A Narrow Window of Opportunity -editorial - (02/05/11)
Implementation of harm reduction strategies since the early 1990s among many IDU populations led to decreases in HIV incidence or sustained low-level HIV prevalence and incidence [3]. In contrast, the impact on HCV transmission within the same populations has been much less pronounced [4]. This is likely related to the higher HCV prevalence among IDUs and higher risk of HCV infection following injection with a contaminated syringe
96% of IDUs Not eligible for HCV Therapy, in this study
www.natap.org/2006/HCV/020106_02.htm
None of the young IDUs we screened for recruitment were ineligible to join the ... care utilization among HCV-positive, young IDUs in Baltimore, New York, and ... of normal for ALT levels be revised as 0.75 times the upper limit of normal for
Scientists Call For Hepatitis Treatment Of Young Injection Drug .Users..
www.natap.org/2006/HCV/020806_07.htm
NEW YORK, NY (UPI) -- February 6, 2006 -- In a study published in the journal Clinical ... "It's time to be clear and consistent throughout the health care delivery system," ... 96% of IDUs Not eligible for HCV Therapy, in this study
Risk factors for infection in chronic hepatitis C: A high prevalence of of sexual exposure among human immunodeficiency virus-coinfected women..
www.natap.org/2011/HCV/071211_03.htm
Factors Associated with HCV Transmission from Male to Female ...
www.natap.org/2009/HIV/122309_01.htm
In this study group, the prevalence of HCV infection among women with no reported history of IDU or receipt of blood transfusion was 6.5% (3.6% for the HIV
Cortland, N.Y. -- Public health officials are investigating a surge of Hepatitis C cases in Cortland County showing up mostly among people under 35 who shoot drugs.
Catherine Feuerherm, Cortland's public health director, said the county has seen 30 cases of Hepatitis C in the last five months. She said Onondaga, Tompkins and other neighboring counties are not seeing similar increases.
Her department is working with the state Health Department to investigate the outbreak.
Most of those infected are people who injected prescription pains pills such as Opana and Suboxone after they were crushed and boiled down, she said. Those prescription drugs are sold and shared, she said.
Many of the infected individuals shared needles, cotton, water and other paraphernalia used to shoot drugs, she said.
Hepatitis C is a viral disease transmitted through the blood that can result in cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Most people with Hepatitis C do not look or feel sick and may not have any symptoms for 20 or more years. This is the chronic form of the disease. People with acute Hepatitis C show symptoms.
Six of the 30 cases of Hepatitis C in Cortland County are acute.
There is no vaccine to prevent Hepatitis C. There are treatments available, but they are not always successful in removing the virus.
Hepatitis C can be contracted by engaging in high-risk behaviors such as injecting drugs and sharing needles, body piercing with unsterile equipment and sharing body jewelry, getting tattoos with unsterile equipment and unprotected sex. People also can get HIV by engaging in the same behaviors.
Investigators have not found individuals co-infected with both HIV and Hepatitis C, but not all the individuals have been tested for HIV, Feuerherm said.
The Cortland County Health Department said its investigation has found people believe they are not at risk if they share needles and other injection paraphernalia only with their partners and close friends, not realizing those people may already be infected.
Feuerherm said the outbreak is not happening among Cortland's college population.
She said the sudden spike in Hepatitis C is "reflective of the drug use culture."
"This has been found to be a quick way to make money," she said. "There is a recruitment aspect to it. What we're seeing is an explosion within the circle of use."
The Health Department is advising anyone who thinks they may be at risk of Hepatitis C to get tested by their doctors. People who do not have doctors can get tested at the Cortland County Health Department. To schedule an appointment call 607-753-5027.
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