Nearly 4 million Americans infected with hepatitis C

Millions of people in the United States suffer from hepatitis C, but most of them don't even know they have it. Dr. Michael Charlton from Intermountain Medical Center talks more about the disease.

An estimated 3-4 million persons in the United States are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is estimated that up to 85% are unaware that they are infected.

Liver disease related to HCV is the leading indication for liver transplantation, the most common cause of death among persons with HIV infection and is the most common basis for hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) in the United States. Hepatocellular carcinoma related to infection with HCV has become the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related death in the United States, and during the past two decades, the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States has tripled while the 5-year survival rate has remained below 12%.

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