As a result of increased HIV testing in southeastern Indiana due to the large outbreak of the viral disease linked to injectable drug use, health officials in Jackson County say there is a significant increase in hepatitis C being reported in the county.
Image/ GrahamColm
In fact, more than 50 cases of the disease are currently being investigated, approximately 10 times the number of cases reported in a month.
The Seymour Tribune reports: The increase is being attributed to the ongoing HIV outbreak in southeast Indiana, centered in nearby Scott County. That health emergency has caused many people to seek free HIV testing which has led to more Hepatitis C being diagnosed too, said Lin Montgomery, public health coordinator with the Jackson County Health Department.
As of March 27, 2015, there have been a total of 81 HIV positive tests, which includes 74 confirmed and 7 preliminary cases related to the outbreak in southeastern Indiana.
On Thursday, Indiana Governor Mike Pence declared a public health disaster emergency for Scott County.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness. Hepatitis C is usually spread when blood from a person infected with the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Today, most people become infected with the Hepatitis C virus by sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs.
Hepatitis C can be either “acute” or “chronic.” Acute Hepatitis C virus infection is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. For most people, acute infectionleads to chronic infection. Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease than can result in long-term health problems, or even death.
While I know that a certain amount of people who are diagnosed with HepC *today* are IV drug users, I find it irresponsible not to also list the other ways one can or could have contract the virus.
MANY of us are not IV drug users and only citing that means of transmission just perpetuates the stigma that were all drug users. This causes people to not seek treatment or support because they arw afraid of being labeled.
I was infected as a child from multiple surgeries. I’m 40. I’ve had it 98% of my life.
It’s time the media does a well researched, well written piece on this aweful disease and help us get the right information out there so we can get people help and eradicate this disease!
Ultimately it doesn’t matter how a person was infected, what matters is that they have medical care, a good support system and a way to get the medications that will cure this disease!