November is a time to be thankful for many reasons and here at OHAIDP, we are thankful for all our partners and our shared accomplishments.
The interest and follow up from our Hidden Casualties: Consequences of the Opioid Epidemic on the Spread of Infectious Diseases event has been phenomenal. The opioid crisis in the United States has reached epidemic levels. Our office, along with many of our partners, are continuing to address this critical health threat. If you haven’t seen the powerful webcast, you can read the event coverage in USA Today or view the event video with transcripts.
After celebrating Veterans Day this past Saturday, November 11, it’s important to continue honoring our military veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces. Did you know that veterans have higher rates of hepatitis C (HCV) infection than the general public? The estimated chronic HCV infection rate for veterans who are in care is 4% which is about three times greater than that of the general U.S. population.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently shared major progress with new strategies for ensuring that veterans are screened, linked to care and treated for HCV. Since January 2014, the VA has treated more than 92,000 veterans with HCV infection, with cure rates exceeding 90%.
With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, there are now even greater opportunities for widespread treatment and cure for patients with chronic HCV infection. The VA is a strong example of how an integrated delivery system dedicated to addressing the viral hepatitis epidemic can achieve high screening and treatment rates among their patients and help halt the epidemic. Watch some of the VA’s success stories in our latest blog.
November is also National Diabetes Month which brings attention to diabetes and its impact on millions of Americans. People living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are about twice as likely to be infected with hepatitis B as the general population. The self-care practices used by most people managing diabetes can make them more susceptible to infection. Learn about why people living with diabetes should get vaccinated.
We look forward to keeping you updated on viral hepatitis news. And please remember to follow us on Twitter at @HHS_ViralHep.
