Hepatitis C-associated deaths peaked in 2014 with 19,659 infected individuals dying, according to data released by the CDC on Wednesday.
A second CDC study published recently in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that mortality associated with hepatitis C is on the rise. Between 2003 and 2013, the number of deaths linked to the virus surpassed 60 other infectious conditions combined, including HIV and tuberculosis.
"Why are so many Americans dying of this preventable, curable disease?" asked Jonathan Mermin, MD, director of CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. "Once hepatitis C testing and treatment are as routine as they are for high cholesterol and colon cancer, we will see people living the long, healthy lives they deserve."
The data released by the CDC highlights the upsurges of infections in intravenous drug users. There were 2,194 reported cases of acute hepatitis C infections in 2014. The majority of those infections occurred in individuals with a history of injection drug use.
Approximately 3.5 million Americans are living with hepatitis C, and about half do not know they're infected.
"Because hepatitis C often has few noticeable symptoms, the number of new cases is likely much higher than what is reported. Due to limited screening and underreporting, we estimate the number of new infections is closer to 30,000 per year," said John W. Ward, MD, director of CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis. "We must act now to diagnose and treat hidden infections before they become deadly and to prevent new infections."
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