This was a very good and very accurate article. I am sorry AngryPostman that you might be one of the people who were exposed there and are thus *angry* but as MikeB stated this is *solid, factual reporting on the nature of this disease* I have probably had it since the 60's (before universal precautions) but had no symptoms, no elevated ALT or AST over the years, but was already cirrhotic by biopsy in 1997. I keep trying to post information to educate the public about Hepatitis C but most are just seeing the $$ signs of an impending lawsuit rather than learning what the truths are (the reverse of an ambulance chaser - a lawsuit chaser which has become far too easy in this country). One woman who came back positive has already been quoted in the paper as saying she can no longer have sex with her husband or allow her many children to eat or drink after her or share her bathroom. POPPYCOCK! She is causing her own *mental anguish* (which I am sure she hopes to turn into $$) by not learning THE FACTS about her own disease. And if she is already experiencing symptoms (and she wasn't in the acute phase) then she has had this disease for much longer than a few years. As this article stated most people never have any symptoms and it takes anywhere from 10 to 40 years to get symptoms. I am very sad that this happened and I truly feel very sorry for those that did pick this up at the clinic but it is true that the majority of people who will be found positive have had the disease since long before they ever walked into that or any other clinic. For more info on Hepatitis C please see my comments at:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb...

This is one of the best articles done out about this horrible *outbreak* thus far. Everyone should be tested for Hepatitis C. There are far more ways than just an endoscopy clinic to *pick it up at* Beauty parlors, barber shops, tattoo parlors, any place that might have a blood to blood transfer. KNOW YOUR HEPATITIS C STATUS! GET TESTED!

Part 1 - I wish I had been told I was negative (back in 1997) but alas I do have Hepatitis C and already had cirrhosis by the time it was found. It is the main reason I continue trying to educate and advocate where I can. I have been posting this comment whenever another story has been written n hopes that it might help at least one other person.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
While I am so sorry to read that so many people are getting diagnosed with Hep C due to *medical negligence* I am glad that the word is finally getting OUT about hepatitis C because for YEARS no one has wanted to talk about much less learn anything about it. For the person who is worried about giving it to her boyfriend - it is only transmitted BLOOD to BLOOD! There have been many *scares* over the past few years that make the newspaper for a day and then disappear. I hope these last few outbreaks keep it IN the news for awhile. Here is a comment I made on the Long Island site:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well now that so many of you have expressed your outrage at the doctor (we might never know the *real* story) I would like to challenge you to learn a little bit about Hepatitis C! Don't misunderstand as I am also appalled that this could have happened in this supposedly enlightened day and age of universal precautions. Perhaps all this happened (sadly) so that more of you might get educated about Hepatitis C! It is reaching epidemic proportions in our country and most people don't know the differences between Hep A, B, C, D, E and G.

Hepatitis C requires a blood to blood transmission. It is the most common chronic blood borne virus in the U.S. today. There are an estimated 5 million Americans with Hepatitis C (FIVE times more than HIV) Bet you didn't know that! Only about 1 million know they have it. It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. 2/3 of patients will die waiting for a liver transplant because there are not enough organs to go around (please sign your donor cards!) There are an estimated 200 million people with Hepatitis C worldwide. Please read Part 2.

Part 2 - You should be tested for Hepatitis C if you:
* received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992
* were notified that you received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C.
* have ever injected illegal drugs, even if you experimented only one time many years ago (or snorted any drugs)
* were a recipient of clotting factor(s) made before 1987
* have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
* have had tattoos or body piercings
* had sexual activity that involved contact with blood
* have had vaccinations administered with pneumatic jet injectors
* are a veteran (especially Viet Nam)
* have shared razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. with an infected person
* are a health care worker exposed to needle sticks or first responders
* have ever been incarcerated
* also 5% of babies born to infected mothers will get Hepatitis C

Doctors do NOT test for Hepatitis C on annual physicals or routine exams. You have to ASK TO BE TESTED!

You do not have any symptoms that damage is being done until the latter stages of the disease and that can be from 10 to 40 years! That is why it is called the *silent killer* There are treatments for Hepatitis C that are 45-80% successful depending on your genotype.

There are an estimated 4 million of you walking around with it that don't know you have it and can be inadvertently spreading it. Whether at the beauty salon where an HCV+ person was nicked and then you were nicked with the same instrument (Hep C does not die when it hits the air unlike HIV) and can live on surfaces for up to 4 days plus. Ignorance is not bliss.

Know your Hepatitis C status!
GET TESTED!

There are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B. There is NOT a vaccine for Hepatitis C!

Would you feel guilty if you found out you were in fact positive and might have put other people at risk over the years because you didn't know to be careful with your blood?

Please GET TESTED for HEPATITIS C! It is a simple blood test and can be added to your routine tests the next time you see your doctor. Just ask him/her to add it! Take care and be your OWN advocates.

To learn more you can visit my My Space at:
www.myspace.com/figmento

Part 2-
You should be tested for Hepatitis C if you:
* received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992
* were notified that you received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis C.
* have ever injected illegal drugs, even if you experimented only one time many years ago (or snorted any drugs)
* were a recipient of clotting factor(s) made before 1987
* have ever been on long-term kidney dialysis
* have had tattoos or body piercings
* had sexual activity that involved contact with blood
* have had vaccinations administered with pneumatic jet injectors
* are a veteran (especially Viet Nam)
* have shared razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, tweezers, etc. with an infected person
* are a health care worker exposed to needle sticks or first responders
* also 5% of babies born to infected mothers will get Hepatitis C
* have ever been incarcerated

Doctors do NOT test for Hepatitis C on annual physicals or routine exams. You have to ASK TO BE TESTED!

You do not have any symptoms that damage is being done until the latter stages of the disease and that can be from 10 to 40 years! That is why it is called the *silent killer* There are treatments for Hepatitis C that are 45-80% successful depending on your genotype.

There are an estimated 4 million of you walking around with it that don't know you have it and can be inadvertently spreading it. Whether at the beauty salon where an HCV+ person was nicked and then you were nicked with the same instrument (Hep C does not die when it hits the air unlike HIV) and can live on surfaces for up to 4 days plus. Ignorance is not bliss.

Know your Hepatitis C status!
GET TESTED!

There are vaccines for Hepatitis A and B. There is NOT a vaccine for Hepatitis C!

Would you feel guilty if you found out you were in fact positive and might have put other people at risk over the years because you didn't know to be careful with your blood?

Please GET TESTED for HEPATITIS C! It is a simple blood test and can be added to your routine tests the next time you see your doctor. Just ask him/her to add it! Take care and be your OWN advocates.

Part 1 - While I am so sorry to read that so many people are getting diagnosed with Hep C due to *medical negligence* I am glad that the word is finally getting OUT about hepatitis C because for YEARS no one has wanted to talk about much less learn anything about it. For the person who is worried about giving it to her boyfriend - it is only transmitted BLOOD to BLOOD! There have been many *scares* over the past few years that make the newspaper for a day and then disappear. I hope these last few outbreaks keep it IN the news for awhile. Here is a comment I made on the Long Island site:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well now that so many of you have expressed your outrage at the doctor (we might never know the *real* story) I would like to challenge you to learn a little bit about Hepatitis C! Don't misunderstand as I am also appalled that this could have happened in this supposedly enlightened day and age of universal precautions. Perhaps all this happened (sadly) so that more of you might get educated about Hepatitis C! It is reaching epidemic proportions in our country and most people don't know the differences between Hep A, B, C, D, E and G.

Hepatitis C requires a blood to blood transmission. It is the most common chronic blood borne virus in the U.S. today. There are an estimated 5 million Americans with Hepatitis C (FIVE times more than HIV) Bet you didn't know that! Only about 1 million know they have it. It is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. 2/3 of patients will die waiting for a liver transplant because there are not enough organs to go around (please sign your donor cards!) There are an estimated 200 million people with Hepatitis C worldwide.

See Part 2 for the rest