Tag: Virus

West Virginia Fights Virus by Launching Hepatitis C Program

An initiative to combat the rise of hepatitis C infections has launched in West Virginia.

News outlets report a five-year program called HepConnect launched Wednesday at West Virginia University. It was created by California-based biotech company Gilead Sciences.

Gilead Executive Director of Government Affairs Derek Spencer says HepConnect has three purposes: improving hepatitis C detection, reducing harm through education and improving health care infrastructure.

The opioid epidemic is partially responsible for the virus’ spread. Spencer says 2.4 million people in the U.S. are living with hepatitis C and 50 percent aren’t aware they’re infected. He says the Appalachian region saw a 300 percent increase in the virus between 2006 and 2012.

About $11.3 million is being dedicated to HepConnect, which already launched in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. It’s launching in North Carolina next week.

New Cases of Zika in Appalachian States

While West Virginia continues to be free of the Zika virus, the Appalachian states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Alabama and Georgia have all reported cases. The virus is spread through mosquitoes and was first dectected in South America.

Because of the spread of the virus to neighboring states, West Virginia Commissioner of Public Health Rahul Gupta says the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has alerted healthcare providers, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities to be aware of and prepared for the possibility of the virus appearing in West Virginia.

The majority of people with Zika are asymptomatic. In others, symptoms are mild, but include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes.

Gupta stresses, though, that pregnant women should consider postponing travel to areas where the Zika virus is rapidly spreading due to the possible association between the virus and birth defects.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.

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