The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention reports that there has
been a significant decline in the rates of new acute
hepatitis infections over the last 10 years in the
United States. This decline is due in part to
hepatitis A and B vaccination programs.
The American
Liver Foundation finds this news promising, but is urging
people to remember that chronic hepatitis B and C affect
more than 5 million Americans and that hepatitis
C rates are actually on the rise. There are vaccines
for hepatitis A and B but not for C. Hepatitis C is
the most common blood-borne infection in the United States,
and almost 4 million Americans are infected with it.
Acute or
short-term infections more commonly occur with hepatitis A
and B and are less likely to cause long-term illness.
However, those exposed to hepatitis C have a
70%-80% chronic infection rate. A 2002 study showed
the medical costs for people with hepatitis C are $15
billion annually. The study predicts that if current
rates do not drop significantly, the projected direct
and indirect health care costs for the
period 2010-2019 will be $85 billion. (The
Advocate)