Integrating Viral Hepatitis Preventioi into Public Health Programs Serving People at High Risk for Infection: Good Public Health

摘要

Viral hepatitis caused by infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem in the United States. In 2005, there were an estimated 19,000 new cases of hepatitis A, 15,000 new cases of hepatitis B, and 20,000 new HCV infections.1 In addition, at least 1.25 million people have chronic HBV infection and 3.2 to 4 million people are estimated to have chronic HCV infection, which can cause liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.1"3 By comparison, about 1 million people in the United States have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.4 WHY INTEGRATE? With overlapping risk factors for transmission of viral hepatitis and HIV infections and limited public health resources, integrating services makes good public health sense. Overlapping transmission risk factors The risk factors for sexual and blood-borne transmission of HBV, HCV, and