Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure, liver cancer or life-threatening esophageal and gastric varices.  (Thanks Wiki)

In February, the CDC put out a report stating that Hepatitis C now kills more Americans than HIV with middle age men being at the greatest risk of of contracting the disease 15,000 versus 13,000).  An estimated 3.2 million Americans are infected.  Due to the slow nature of the disease, many people do not know they are infected and may transmit the disease without knowing.

Screening for the disease and early treatment, as well as education, can improve health outcomes and save hundreds of thousands of dollars; the only way for interventions to be cost effective is to catch the disease at its earliest stage.  Much of the transmission in the United States occurs through intravenous drug use.  Blood is currently screened for the disease which has helped to decrease incidence rates over the past two decades.  Currently there is no vaccine for Hep C.