Following nationwide increases in hepatitis C infection, with the largest increases in the Applachian region, the Tennessee Department of Health has issued an advisory for residents to learn more about the infection and consider testing for it.
Advisory warnings include:
• Hepatitis C is spread by direct contact with the blood of an infected person.
• Approximately 3 million people in the U.S. are living with the infection, according to a CDC report.
• The most prevalent method of transmission for hepatitis C is the sharing of needle sand syringes among intravenous drug users.
• Once infected, some people recover fully but most develop chronic infection.
• Many people are not aware they have hepatitis C until it has already caused liver damage.
• There is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C.