Hepatitis Rates Continue to Rise

CDC’s Newly Released Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report Shows Continued Rise in Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C Infections

Washington, DC, September 10, 2019 — Today, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), representing the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments, released the following statement in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) newly released 2017 Annual Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report. The report  reveals that  rates of acute hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) infection in the U.S. continue to rise.

“The new report highlights the impact that viral hepatitis is having on communities across the country and underscores the need for investments in local health departments to implement and continue effective public health interventions to prevent and treat viral hepatitis,” said Lori Tremmel Freeman, NACCHO’s Chief Executive Officer.  “These efforts, along with critical work of community, state and local partners, is needed to address the spread and the numerous factors that contribute to these rising rates.  Failure to collaboratively act on these data will have significant consequences for our communities.”

According to the new report, cases of HAV jumped nearly 70 percent from 2016 to 2017, an increase largely attributable to person-to-person outbreaks among people experiencing homelessness and people who inject drugs. HBV rates among persons aged 40-49 years are the highest in 15 years, partly due to lack of vaccine protection in recommended populations, and factors such as injection drug use and multiple sex partners compound the risk in older age groups. HCV infections have more than tripled since 2010 and the number of new cases is likely much higher but inestimable due to limited testing and underreporting. Large outbreaks of HCV have occurred predominantly among younger adults, primarily as a result of increasing injection drug use associated with America’s ongoing opioid crisis.

As community providers of health education and services, local health departments are on the front lines and play a vital role in addressing hepatitis through vaccination; testing and treatment; linkage to care; surveillance and outbreak response; and elimination strategy planning. However, addressing and reversing these trends will require a collaborative effort among health providers at every level. Coordinated engagement among local, state, federal, and national stakeholders is needed to develop partnerships that increase access to vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations and successfully implement effective, community-based, prevention and treatment strategies, including:

  • Expansion of hepatitis screening and linkage to care services;
  • Increased access to vaccines, especially for recommended at-risk populations;
  • Implementation of syringe services programs; and
  • Eradication of treatment barriers for people living with hepatitis.

Together, these strategies will help decrease transmission of HAV, HBV, and HCV, and increase treatment availability, which will save lives and money and decrease the burden on the nation’s health system.

NACCHO is committed to supporting local public health efforts and has developed several resources to build the capacity of local health departments to address viral hepatitis:

About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation’s nearly 3,000 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.

Panorama Hispano is the regional news and information newspaper for Hispanic and other diverse communities.

US Hispanics are now the largest ethnic minority in the United States numbering 54.2 million as of July 2014. Serving: Buffalo, Rochester, Fredonia, Niagara Falls, NY and Erie, PA. Outside our Market area: Visit our affiliate at: http://www.impremedia.com/

Contact us: Contact@PanoramaHispanoNews.com

Featured News

Nov 2, 2024
Adultos no deberían beber leche a diario y estos son los motivos

Beber leche ha sido tradicionalmente recomendado por sus beneficios para la salud de los huesos, y por su aporte de nutrientes esenciales […]

Read More
Nov 2, 2024
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will feature Ariana Madix, T-Pain, ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ and pasta

NEW YORK (AP) — A eclectic group of stars — including reality TV’s Ariana Madix, Broadway belter Idina Menzel, hip-hop’s T-Pain, members of the […]

Read More
Oct 31, 2024
La ONU se solidariza con España tras las inundaciones mortales en Valencia

El secretario general de la ONU, António Guterres, expresó  su “plena solidaridad con el Gobierno y el pueblo de España” […]

Read More

popular categories

Featured (5,368)
Mundo Latino (2,065)
Locales / Regional (1,198)
Buffalo (2,089)
Dunkirk (1,643)
Rochester (1,617)
PA (1,212)
Negocios / Tecnología (1,047)
Tecnología y Science (217)
Salud (564)
Deportes (925)
Entretenimiento (788)
Extras (440)
Movies (223)
Viajes, Vida y Estilo (712)
Copyright © 2024 Panorama Hispano News. All Rights Reserved.
crossmenuchevron-downmenu-circlecross-circle
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram