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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2001)
january 19. 2001 » ju st o*rt, 7 FTTU ¡i íTWT4.iinetus T he L ingering T hreat Serving your real estate needs for... Hepatitis C crisis hides in the shadows of HIV spotlight by N atalie Shapii )iro n 1992, a deadly new virus was discov ered, one that soon would surpass AIDS in infection rates. By the end of the decade, three times as many people would he infected with hepatitis C as with HIV. Despite the voracity of this virus, there is only a fraction of the funding for hepatitis C programs as for AIDS programs and, until recently, only a fraction of the concern. The hepatitis C virus can linger for years in an unsuspecting host’s body. Some might expe rience mild flulike symptoms in the initial acute phase of infection. Most move on to the chronic phase, which can take decades and might lead to complications such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. According to Dr. Ann Thomas, Oregon Health Division medical epidemiologist, 10 per cent to 20 percent of those with hepatitis C get cirrhosis and 1 percent to 5 percent die. Unlike hepatitis A or B, there is no vaccine for the hepatitis C virus. Another complication is AIDS/hepatitis C co-infection. The U.S. Public Health Service estimates one-third of those with AIDS also are infected with hepatitis C. Such individuals have fewer treatment options: Many HIV drugs cause serious dam age to the liver of those with hepatitis C. Those with both diseases are seven times as likely to die of liver failure than those with only hepatitis C. The hepatitis C virus is spread via blood. The major means of transmission is through intravenous drug use; half of those with the virus contracted it that way. Prior to the enforcement of screening procedures around 1993, blood transfusioas were another common method of transmission. Public health institutions stress that there are other ways to acquire the disease. Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. surgeon general, states that using straws to snort drugs presents an abnormally high risk of contracting hepatitis C. The disease also can he transmitted sexually and from household contact, such as sharing razors or toothbrushes. Exactly how many people have the disease is unclear. Koop thinks hepatitis C already infects three times more people than does AIDS. He states in his Web site that recent studies suggest 4 5 million people in the United States have the virus. Many in the public health serv ices agree it is an epidemic. Hepatitis C is more easily transmittable partly because it is resistant to bleach, heat and time— unlike the more frag ile HIV. Multnomah County only has maintained a voluntary record-keeping system of those who tested positive for the virus since May 2000. So far, it is finding about 200 new cases a month. Gary Oxman, Multnomah County health officer, said he doesn’t know whether those numbers are high. “It’s going to be years before we see how much is out there.” Based on the national average of infected people, he estimates 10,000 to 12,000 Multnomah County residents are infected with hepatitis C. Despite the high incidence rates of hepatitis C, there is a dearth of information and assistance. “It’s a junkie disease,” explained Phyllis Beck of the Hepatitis C Awareness Proj ect, based in Eugene. Her words are reminiscent of the early days of the AIDS crisis, when apa thy and homophobia prevented prompt action to address the crisis. CONDOS V acation H omes H otel P roperties A partment B ldgs . C reg C ray (760) 833-5434 T a ib e lli BRFALTOKSa 211E. Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92264 Coventry Cycle ( l\i W orks Beck is frustrated sociation Project for with the lack of momen organizing on behalf of tum in the public health ultnomah County recommends hepatitis C sufferers, community in helping hepatitis C testing for anybody who: The project, which those with hepatitis C. Ever injected or snorted drugs. works with those in It is especially tough for Had unprotected sex with multiple recovery from drug use partners. and alcoholism, helped those in the prison sys tem. She said of the 6 Had unprotected sex with someone organize a hepatitis C million people incarcer infected with hepatitis C. program for Multnom- ated, almost 40 percent Had a hlcxxl transfusion before 1992. ah County. Was treated for hlcxxl clotting prob In July 1999, the are infected with hep Hepatitis C Task lems before 1987. atitis C. And she finds they Had a birth mother infected with the Force was formed. The county now is hepatitis C virus. receive little or no care in the Oregon prison Has been a longtime kidney dialysis implementing hepati tis C education into system. “We are seeing patient. its street outreach more and more inmates who are being released with cirrhosis or close to program, into its needle exchange program cirrhosis due to lack of follow-up care after a and in correctional facilities. Ronnie Meyers, Multnomah HIV Preven positive diagnosis has been made.” Beck and others also find resistance to med tion Program health services specialist, said her ical care and information from doctors. “We are agency also plans to educate health care given wrong information from doctors, especial providers about hepatitis C. For those with the ly if we are on the Oregon Health Plan,” she disease, the county will help find them a health asserts. “Patients get liver biopsies, see how had care provider. “If they are uninsured, we try to it is and want therapy. But the doctors don’t hook them up with a provider.” However, one element affecting hepatitis C want to be bothered with it.” Kim Matic, Recovery Association Project care and prevention is that no free testing facil assistant director, became frustrated with the ities exist. Multnomah and Washington coun inconsistent information from doctors. “I started ties lack such programs even though people asking questions,” she said pointedly. “We found request free testing. However, both counties have free HIV we couldn’t get information from the medical screening programs. Again, the issue is lack of community.” Part of the problem is a lack of knowledge funding. “There is more funding for HIV than about the virus; funding and apathy are also to for hepatitis C ,” Meyers explained. Nonprofit social service groups also have blame. “It’s recent knowledge and interest," Oxman explained. “IV drug users are not the folded hepatitis C into their programs. Both Outside In and Yellow Brick Road incorporate most popular group in the community.” Limited studies have been conducted on the hepatitis C education into their street youth disease, partly because of funding. Thomas programs. Jessica Guernsey, Yellow Brick Road out noted the Centers for Disease Control “funds a fraction of studies for hepatitis C than for HIV.” reach coordinator, said things are getting better. Oxman credits groups like the Recovery As- “But it’s unfortunate—seeing the numbers— that it took so long to get action." Cascade AIDS Project d<x;sn’t have a spe S upport G roups for cific hepatitis C program hut welcomes those T hose with H epatitis C with the disease. “It’s just now catching on in • Multnomah County Health Department: public health; people know it’s a big, big prob lem," admitted Doug Zeh, CA P advocacy case 503-988-3816. • Recovery Association Project (Central worker. “As the numbers are believed to he larger than with HIV, the cost of treating it is City Concern): 503-294-1681. • Hepatitis C Awareness Project: P.O. Box very, very high; no one comes to grip yet on 41803; Eugene, OR 97404-0520; hepcaware® how to do that.’ aol.com. NATALIE S hapiro is a free-lance tenter who • Hepatitis Hotline: 888-443-7232. M ’ in recently relocated to Portland. Profevvictual Service Comfortable Bikeo Recumbentv a Specialty! Open Tuesday-Sunday (503) 230-7723 2025 SE Hawthorne Auto, Home, Life & Business “Your Independent Insurance Agency” E P Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker, Inc. 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