CDC: Get tested for hepatitis C, baby boomers

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(CBS/AP) All baby boomers should get tested for hepatitis C, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in new guidelines released today.

The CDC wants anyone born from 1945 to 1965 to get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus. That's because the disease can take decades to cause liver damage, and many people don't know they're harboring the blood-borne virus.

Baby boomers account for about two-thirds of the 3.2 million Americans thought to be infected.

CDC urges hepatitis C test for all baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965

The recommendation should not come as a surprise for many Americans. This May, the CDC released a draft of the recommendations encouraging all baby boomers to get tested. The new finalized recommendations appear in the August 17 issue of the CDC's journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

CDC officials took the step after seeing a near doubling of hepatitis C deaths since the late 1990s. That report found there were 15,000 deaths caused by hepatitis C in 2007, far more than previous rates and surpassing AIDS deaths. Three-fourths of the hepatitis deaths occurred in people ages 45 to 64, and the CDC said those numbers are likely to grow over the next 15 years unless health officials intervene.

"Asking someone about a risk that happened 20 to 30 years ago is a lot to ask," Dr. John Ward, the CDC's hepatitis chief, said at the time of the draft recommendations.

Testing all baby boomers is that new strategy.

Previously, testing was recommended only for people considered at highest risk. It's most commonly spread today by sharing needles to inject illegal drugs.

Hepatitis C is a virus that can be transmitted through contact with contaminated blood - possibly through shared needles - that attacks the liver and leads to inflammation. While the disease may not produced signs or symptoms in early stages, some people may experience mild symptoms like fatigue, fever, nausea or poor appetite, muscle and joint pains, or abdominal tenderness, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Chronic hepatitis C infections can eventually lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver after 20 to 30 years or liver failure. Recent research has also tied the disease to causing cancers, including gastric and liver cancers.

[biller1]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but for all of you that think you can't have Hepatitis C because you've been tested when donating blood can still have it. There are about 40 different kinds of Hep C that have been identified but there is always the possibility of false negatives in the blood tests that are run. I've been donating for over 10 years, 4 times a year, yet I wasn't diagnosed until a biopsy was done on my liver. I had no pain, no symptoms that couldn't be explained by getting older (almost 51), working a lot, and not enough sleep. If not for a routine exam at my gyn where he felt my liver was enlarged, no tests would have been run. There is no cure for this as the cells mutate so fast.

[Deep-Creek-Lake-Guy]

AmazingGrce,
You are absolutely right!!! This stinks to high heaven!!! What's the real reason driving this? The two drug companies who have developed recent treatments, a prior tainted Red Cross blood supply, Vietnam era causes affecting all the troops who served, or ???. The reasons given for the testing the entire Boomer generation (and why no one else?)don't make sense!!! Luckily, i've been donating blood for 20+ years so I know that I'm clean. This reminds me of the cheesy Cold War End Service Appreciation Certificate that DoD offerred to any ex-military who asked for it back in the 90's. The real reason behind that one will probably never be known!!! As Reagan once said, "Trust, but Verify!"

[cwswife]

My husband found out he was infected during a routine Dr. visit. By then he was in late stage. The treatment was not an option. He then developed liver cancer which can happen with this disease. The only good news about that is he was then put on the transplant list. The tumor had to grow a certain size until he was moved up the list. We had many Dr. appt's. Catscans, biopsy's, ultrasounds and many other costly procedures. Finally the day came and we were on the top of the list. It was a very emotional time. The wait began. We had a couple false alarms. One of which my husband was already prepped for surgery. The young women who was taken off life support , her liver was not viable. We finally received his new liver on July 4th 2008. He did quite well for the last few years, only the hep c is still there and has attacked his new liver with a vengence. He has now started a new dual medication program to hopefully help at least slow it down. This has been a roller coaster ride. What ever happens, we thank God for organ donors.

[cwswife]

Did I mention he is only 61 years old?

[kbbpll]

Hmmm, 20 or 30 years ago, did I share needles while injecting illegal drugs? Gosh, I just can't remember. Better go get tested! Now, where did I put the car keys?

[AmazingGrce]

As much as I hate to spread conspiracy theories, this one just smells bad. First of all IF I decided to be tested, I would not allow any of that test information to be shared beyond my physician. Secondly if you have given blood in recent years, your blood was tested for the disease. Of course this article fails to mention that fact since it would reduce the governments ability to perform the Nanny function.

With the growing desire of government officials to meddle in private lives this 'testing' should be subjected to the strongest scrutiny by non-government organizations. Did this plan orginate in Bloomberg administration?

[AnnieDanny]

And if you've never been in a high risk group ever (ie never done drugs ever) then I suppose there's not as much urgency about being tested?

[Ron-Baby-Boomer]

This article lacks an important element. What will/can be done if someone tests positive for Hepatitis C? Since I have no plans to spread the disease, what is the benefit? Is there a treatment?