Activists Ask
The American Liver Foundation
GET REAL!

Dec 2, 2006 8:23 AM  

Subject  Please address questions on article Veterans: War Against Hepatitis C   

Dear Mr. Jeglinski
 
The article states that Hepatitis C kills 8,000-10,000 Americans each year.  http://www.liverfoundation.org/cgi-bin/dbs/articles.cgi?db=articles&uid=default&ID=1025&view_records=1
 
Please list the correct information on just how many Americans are dying from Hepatitis C. You are quoting figures from 1998. How can that be? We estimate, based on scientific data and NIH/CDC government professionals, that over 26,000 people will die this year. That's 3 people per hour, and two of these people will have a military background.
 
[1] The National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc. (NACHC) /U.S. Newswire/   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the number of deaths from end-stage liver disease in the U.S. alone will reach 30,000 to 40,000 annually by the year 2010. http://www.nationalhepatitiscinstitute.org/Data/Transmission/CDCdeathrate2010.htm

[1] 1995 First time death rate announce for HCV,  June 1, 1995  An estimated 3.5 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C. Each year, 8000 to 10,000 chronically infected patients die of liver-related complications, and 1000 undergo liver transplantation1 . Terrault N, Wright T. Interferon and hepatitis C. N Engl J Med 1995;332:1509-11. [Free Full Text]  (and Alter M: personal communication)
 
1998 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress states. "Annual deaths from chronic liver disease caused by hepatitis C could triple in the next 10 to 20 years if effective therapies are not found. NIH has initiated research to develop a preventive vaccine and improved drug therapies, and new efforts are underway to identify and educate those already infected."
 
1998 National Institutes of Health (NIH) state; Incidence, Prevalence, and Epidemiology of HCV Infection.....An estimated 8,000 to 10,000 deaths each year result from HCV-associated chronic liver disease. Without intervention, that number could triple in the next 10 to 20 years.(7) 7. Management of Hepatitis C . NIH Consensus Statement. 1998

When is ALF going to stand up and advocate for Hepatitis C patients instead of an apparent political agenda?

Too many are dying now and most still don't know they have hepatitis C till the end....many ways we could have helped these patients stay alive.........had they only known about the virus:( 
 
Our numbers are 4 to 1 over HIV, yet, you say nothing while Viral Hepatitis gets sucked into that black hole??  
 
According to a survey conducted at a large Midwestern university; an astonishing 75% of College undergraduates in the United States do not recognize the magnitude of their risk behaviors for contracting HCV. Researchers found a potential risk factor, from tattoos to sharing body jewelry

[1] MedlinePlus: College Students Unaware of Hepatitis C Risks  College Students Unaware of Hepatitis C Risks. ... at risk for hepatitis C, according to a survey of 610 undergraduates at a large Midwestern university. ... www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_40517.html   

Martin Friede, Ph.D., World Health Organization sworn testimony during the 2005 FDA General Hospital and Personal Use Devices Panel, testified that mass injecting campaigns with military style needleless jet injectors are a significant risk for transmission of Hepatitis. Latest research shows all four of the mass injectors used until 1999, tested positive for contamination and had capability to transmit blood borne pathogens. [i] This explains why military and their families are infected 2 to 1 over the general public

[i] U.S. Food And Drug Administration General Hospital And Personal Use Devices Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/05/transcripts/2005-4172t1.htm     WHO- Jetguns Significant Risk

Do what's right, get real here, and help us stop the spread of Hepatitis C.
http://HCVets.com

[1] Testimony of Gary A. Roselle, M. D. Program Director for Infectious Diseases Veterans Health Administration Department of Veterans Affairs Before the Subcommittee on Benefits Committee on Veterans' Affairs U.S. House of Representatives April 13, 2000 http://hcvets.com/data/va_news/testimony_of_gary_a.htm