May 21, 2012

CDC Considering Recommending Hepatitis C Test for Boomers

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It's a "silent epidemic," an "unrecognized health crisis," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it's affecting 2.1 million baby boomers in the United States. The CDC announced Friday that it is considering recommending Hepatitis C testing for everyone born between 1945 and 1965. Currently the CDC recommends this testing only for those who are at-risk - people who participated in intravenous drug use or had a blood transfusion before 1992, when screening was implemented… Approximately 20% of people with Hepatitis C will never develop symptoms and will conquer the disease without treatment. The rest can be treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

 

CNN by Jacque Wilson

Tags: baby boomers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CNN, Hepatitis C, Immunology, Infectious Diseases

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