Surviving Hepatitis C in AZ Jails, State Prisons, and Federal Detention Centers.

Surviving Hepatitis C in AZ Jails, State Prisons, and Federal Detention Centers.

The "Hard Time" blogspot is a volunteer-run site for the political organization of people with Hepatitis C behind and beyond prison walls, their loved ones, and whomever cares to join us. We are neither legal nor medical professionals. Some of us may organize for support, but this site is primarily dedicated to education and activism; we are fighting for prevention, detection, treatment, and a cure for Hepatitis C, particularly down in the trenches where most people are dying - in prison or on the street... Join us.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

C. Everett Koop and the Hep C Epidemic: Calling it what it is.

Just came across a Hep C website set up by the The C. Everett Koop Institute at Dartmouth, interestingly titled www.epidemic.org. Some of their general info seems a little out of date, but I though the following quote was useful to keep in mind, and I'm posting their page of links for people to take political action.

The Forum : Political Action

Take action! Learn how you can join Dr. Koop and thousands of others in the fight against Hepatitis C.

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Arizona Department of Health Services

Hepatitis Program: Data and Statistics

Around the globe…

* Health experts estimate 180 million people have chronic hepatitis C worldwide.

The hepatitis C virus was not discovered until 1989. A test to detect the virus in the blood was not developed until 1992.

In the United States…

* Hepatitis C infection is the most common chronic blood borne infection in the U.S.

Approximately 4.1 million persons, or 1.6% of the total U.S. population, are infected with hepatitis C.

* Of persons infected with hepatitis C

85% will remain infected for life; of those:

60 - 70% will develop chronic liver disease

10 – 20% will develop cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)

1 – 5% will develop liver cancer

* Liver failure from chronic hepatitis C is one of the most common reasons for liver transplants.

* In 2005, about 6,500 liver transplants were performed in the U.S.

* The number of liver transplants performed per year has been increasing steadily for more than 15 years.

* Chronic liver disease is the tenth leading cause of death among adults in the U.S., causing approximately 25,000 deaths annually.

*40% of deaths from chronic liver disease can be attributed to hepatitis C.

*The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that deaths due to hepatitis C will double or triple in the next 15 to 20 years.

* From year 2010 through 2019, direct medical costs of HCV-related liver disease are projected to reach $10.7 billion.

In Arizona…

* The reporting of hepatitis C by physicians and clinical laboratories began in April 1997, and a registry of infections in Arizona was initiated in 1998.

* It is estimated that at least 100,000 people are infected with hepatitis C, nearly half of whom are unaware of their infection.

* As many as 85,000 of Arizonans infected with hepatitis C will be infected for life.

Most HCV-infected Arizonans are 35-54 years old.

* In 1998, $38.5 million was spent on hepatitis C treatment in Arizona.

Please note: Data are provisional and subject to change as new reports are received.

Total HCV Reports by Year, Arizona, 1998-2006

Total HCV Reports by Age Group, Arizona, 1998-2006

From a report published by the AZ Department of Health Services:

http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/oids/hepc/stats.htm

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Office of HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Services
150 N. 18th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 364-3655
(602) 364-3268 Fax
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