Hepatitis C Workshop Set

ALAMOSA — Hepatitis C is an infectious (contagious) liver disease that spreads through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person.

Andres Guerrero with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Chris Grano with Hep C Connection in Denver will present the workshop ”Hep C- What you need to Know” on Thursday, October 8, in Alamosa.

The workshop will be held at SLV Heath Education Center at 1919 Main St. in Alamosa. Two times for the same program are available — 3:30–5 p.m. and 7– 8:30 p.m.

Hep C testing will be available at no charge for people who use injection drugs, were born between 1945 and 1965, had sex partners who are Hep C positive, had tattoos in prison or jail and/or had blood products or tissue before 1992. Testing is available for those who qualify with the above criteria through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment from 1– 2:30 p.m. October 8th at the SLV Heath Education Center at 1919 Main St. in Alamosa. No appointment is needed for testing and spaces are limited.

Call the SLV AHEC at 589-4977 for further information or to register by October 6.

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High number of Hepatitis C cases in Mesa County

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. It's called the "hidden epidemic" and is more aggressive and infectious than HIV. Hepatitis C starts as a liver infection and can turn into a chronic disease.

According to The Western Colorado Aids Project, Mesa County is one of the highest counties with Hepatitis C cases in Colorado and it's on the rise. WestCAP Director Jeff Basinger estimates that 3,000 to 5,000 people in Mesa County currently have the disease.

"We have a positivity rate that ranges from 25 to 50 percent of all people we test,” said Basinger.

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