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Recent post

World Hepatitis Day
August 14, 2018
Saturday, July 28 was World Hepatitis Day.
Worldwide, 300 million people are living with viral hepatitis unaware.
Millions will continue to suffer if they remain disconnected from care. Without finding the undiagnosed and providing care, lives will be lost. The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most reported infectious disease in New Mexico according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Between 2014 and 2016, there were 4,281 newly reported HCV patients in New Mexico’s under 30 population with an average annual rate of 170 cases per 100,000 population. Infections occurred primarily in males (66%) and over 90% of newly reported infections occurred in people between the ages of 20 and 29 years. HCV is transmitted when blood from an infected person enters the body of someone who is not infected. Injecting substances with contaminated syringes and sharing contaminated syringes are the most common methods of transmission, but it can also be spread through sexual contact, unsterile tattooing practices and perinatally (mother-to-child), reports the New Mexico Department of Health. Studies have found the prevalence of HCV to be 10 to 20 times higher in people who are experiencing homelessness. With such high prevalence rates, the National Health Care for the Homeless Council recommends clinicians caring for homeless individuals should maintain a high index of suspicion for HCV infection. Further, the Council’s recommendation to combat the spread of HCV is targeted outreach for homeless women and their partners, including HCV testing coupled with referrals to HCV and substance abuse treatments.
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