Hepatitis C surge in central Ohio may spur needle-exchange program

The boom in heroin use paired with a surge in hepatitis C infections in Franklin County and across Ohio have heightened worries about the spread of other diseases, particularly HIV, and sparked conversations about a local needle exchange.

Hepatitis C, a treatable but sometimes deadly viral disease that attacks the liver, was diagnosed in 719 people in Franklin County five years ago. The number had nearly doubled by last year, to 1,369, according to data from Columbus Public Health. So far this year, the county is on pace to record more than 1,400 cases. In just one year, the number of hepatitis C cases statewide grew from 10,020 in 2013 to 15,887 in 2014.

Some of that most certainly is due to a push for testing at-risk baby boomers that has been fueled by better treatments. But there’s little question among doctors and public-health leaders that needle-sharing by people using heroin and other drugs is playing a role. Last year, 603 of the cases in Franklin County were in people 34 or younger.

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Hepatitis C testing resumes in Meigs

POMEROY — The Meigs County Health Department has resumed Hepatitis C testing.

The Meigs County Health Department has historically tested residents for Hepatitis C through a program funded by the Ohio Department of Health. However, ODH’s testing program ended last October due to lack of funding. As a result, the health department had to temporarily stop providing tests.

Having performed 24 tests in 2013 and 11 tests in 2014 before the program ceased, health department staff knew that they had to do what they could to continue providing tests. An overall view of 2014 data showed that Meigs County had 46 confirmed and 17 suspected cases of Hepatitis C.

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Local Hepatitis C cases hit all-time high

CHILLICOTHE (Ohio) – A dangerous viral infection saw a dramatic spike in cases in Ross County during 2014, according to year-end numbers from the Ross County Health District.

Hepatitis C cases in the county jumped from 153 in 2013 to 234 last year – an increase of 53 percent and an all-time high locally.

“This is easily the highest number of cases ever reported to us,” said Kathy Wakefield, director of Public Health Nursing at the Ross County Health District. “It’s very concerning, especially considering how big of an increase it was in just one year.”

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