Hepatitis C rates in Oregon soar above national average

"About 80 percent of the people who die from hepatitis C in Oregon are between 45 to 64 years old."

When it comes to viral infections in Oregon, hepatitis C is far deadlier than AIDS.

report out this week shows that infections from hepatitis C remained fairly stable in Oregon between 2009 and 2013 but deaths from the virus climbed steadily over that period. They're now six times higher than deaths from AIDS.

"There are 5,000 people living with HIV in our state," said Dr. Ann Thomas, a public health physician. "There are almost 10 times as many people living with hepatitis C."

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