Reported Hep C cases in
young people more than tripled from 2006 to 2012 in Kentucky, Tennessee,
Virginia and West Virginia, CDC study finds
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned about a sharp
increase in hepatitis C infections linked to injection-drug abuse in
four Appalachian states, and called for better health services to
contain the spread.
Reported cases of acute hepatitis C infection
in people ages 30 or under more than tripled from 2006 to 2012 in four
states—Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia—according to a
new study published by the CDC Thursday. Among patients for whom
associated risk factors were reported, more than 70% reported
injection-drug abuse.
During the same period, the number of
people under 30 admitted to substance-abuse treatment facilities for
opioid drugs grew by 21% in those states. A significant proportion of
these people identified injection as their main method of drug use.
Read more... Labels: CDC Warning, hepatitis C on the rise, injection drug use (IDU)