For the Health of it: Hep C on the rise in Chenango

Submitted by the Chenango County Health Department

CHENANGO COUNTY – The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) has been steadily increasing in Chenango County in recent years. In 2010 there were 20 reported cases of the potentially deadly virus, and the number has increased to a reported 66 in 2014 alone.

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Jackson County, IN: ‘There is a significant increase in hepatitis C’

As a result of increased HIV testing in southeastern Indiana due to the large outbreak of the viral disease linked to injectable drug use, health officials in Jackson County say there is a significant increase in hepatitis C being reported in the county.  In fact, more than 50 cases of the disease are currently being investigated, approximately 10 times the number of cases reported in a month.

The Seymour Tribune reports: The increase is being attributed to the ongoing HIV outbreak in southeast Indiana, centered in nearby Scott County. That health emergency has caused many people to seek free HIV testing which has led to more Hepatitis C being diagnosed too, said Lin Montgomery, public health coordinator with the Jackson County Health Department.

On Thursday, Indiana Governor Mike Pence declared a public health disaster emergency for Scott County.

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HIV, Hepatitis C infections up in Marion Co.

INDIANAPOLIS - New infections of HIV and Hepatitis C increased dramatically from 2013 to 2014 among Marion County's young adult population, RTV6 has learned.

According to Marion County Health Department data, new Hepatitis C infections among people ages 20-24 increased by 120 percent between 2013 and 2014 – the latest year data was available for. Hepatitis C infections increased by 100 percent among people ages 25 to 34.

New HIV infections also increased 51 percent during that time frame in the 20-24 age group, and 32 percent among people 25-34.

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State health officials see spike in Hepatitis C cases

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is seeing new cases of Hepatitis C among people under 30, a trend that mirrors a similar rise in heroin use among that age group.

The number of Hepatitis C cases reported for people under 30 is almost five times higher than it was roughly a decade ago, rising from 160 cases to 710 during that timespan.

"The trends of hepatitis C in young people and heroin overdoses and deaths are rising," said Sheila Guilfoyle, the viral hepatitis prevention coordinator with the state DHS.

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Boone faces heroin, hep C epidemics

Heroin abuse and hepatitis C infections are at epidemic levels in Boone County, local officials told several dozen people attending an Indiana Youth Institute Kids Count 2015 data workshop Tuesday at the Lebanon Public Library.

“We have a heroin epidemic in Boone County,” Sheriff Mike Nielsen said. Cindy Murphy, RN, administrator of the Boone County Health Department, said 40 percent of people who come to the agency’s sexually transmitted diseases clinics admit that they use intravenous drugs.

“We have a hepatitis C epidemic because of IV drug abuse,” Murphy said.

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