Current Hepatitis News
News
- November 29, 2011 | OraSure.com
OraSure Technologies Receives CLIA Waiver for OraQuick(R) HCV Rapid Test
OraSure Technologies, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted a waiver under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 ("CLIA") for its OraQuick® HCV Rapid Antibody Test for use with fingerstick whole blood and venous whole blood specimens.
Link to Press Release > - November 29, 2011 | HIVandHepatitis.com
AASLD: HCV Screening of 1945-1965 Birth Cohort Appears Cost-Effective
Screening all people in the U.S. in the 46 to 66 year age group for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection would identify more than 800,000 additional cases, and offering testing plus treatment if needed would be cost-effective, according to an analysis presented at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Liver Meeting (AASLD 2011) this month in San Francisco.
Read Article > - November 29, 2011 | The Bay Area Reporter
Hep C deaths outpace HIV; new drugs, services for coinfected
Deaths related to hepatitis C have outpaced those due to HIV/AIDS since 2007, researchers reported at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases meeting in San Francisco.
Read Article > - November 11, 2011 | Family Practice News
CDC Poised to Advise Screening Baby Boomers for HCV
In the United States, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is most prevalent among adults born from 1945 through 1965, and approximately 50% to 75% of infected adults are unaware of their infections. CDC is poised to recommend one-time HCV screening of all baby boomers, which would be in addition to current screening recommendations for injection-drug users and other high-risk populations, as well as those with unexplained alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations, among others.
Read Article > - November 10, 2011 | Annals of Internal Medicine
The Cost-Effectiveness of Birth-Cohort Screening for Hepatitis C Antibody in U.S. Primary Care Settings
In the United States, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is most prevalent among adults born from 1945 through 1965, and approximately 50% to 75% of infected adults are unaware of their infections. In this paper, a previously validated simulation model is used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of birth-cohort screening for HCV in the United States. The results can be used to inform ongoing discussions about the suitability of a birth-cohort screening strategy as policy recommendation.
Read Article > - October 31, 2011 | WebMD
Panel Recommends Hepatitis B Vaccine for Diabetes Patients
By a 12-2 vote, the ACIP strongly recommended the hepatitis B vaccine for diabetes patients under age 60 who have not been fully vaccinated. It also urged hepatitis vaccination of some older diabetes patients.
Read Article > - October 27, 2011 | Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Notes from the Field: Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Virus Infections Among Young Adults --- Massachusetts, 2010
During 2002--2009, rates of newly diagnosed hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased from 65 to 113 cases per 100,000 population among persons aged 15--24 years in Massachusetts. Accordingly, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and CDC interviewed persons aged 18--24 years with HCV infection reported to MDPH during July 1--December 31, 2010, to elicit detailed information regarding demographic, clinical, and risk characteristics.
Read Article > - October 26, 2011 | Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Establishment of a Viral Hepatitis Surveillance System--Pakistan, 2009-2011
Hepatitis A is thought to infect almost all persons living in Pakistan by age 15 years, and hepatitis E is responsible for sporadic infections and outbreaks. The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is estimated at 2.5% and the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, estimated at 4.8%, is one of the highest rates in the world. Hepatitis surveillance in Pakistan has been syndromic, failing to confirm infection, distinguish among viruses, or collect information on risk factors. To understand the epidemiology of viral hepatitis in Pakistan more clearly, the Ministry of Health (MOH) asked the Pakistan Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) to establish a hepatitis sentinel surveillance system in five large public hospitals in four provinces and Islamabad Capital Territory. This report describes the implementation of the viral hepatitis surveillance system in Pakistan and summarizes major findings from June 2010 through March 2011.
Read Article > - September 09, 2011 | cdc.gov/hepatitis
Viral Hepatitis Surveillance – United States, 2009
The 2009 viral hepatitis surveillance report reflects a novel approach to providing public health partners with a more accurate, comprehensive look into viral hepatitis surveillance and the burden caused by these infections in the United States.
Link to Report > - July 29, 2011 | whitehouse.gov
White House Commemorates World Hepatitis Day 2011
Today, I was honored to participate in a special White House event to commemorate the first official World Hepatitis Day. This event was one of many held across the United States and around the world for communities to join together and focus attention on the global health threat of viral hepatitis and promote actions to confront it.
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