|
October 23, 2003
HONOLULU – Residents of Kauai can receive FREE and
CONFIDENTIAL hepatitis C testing at the Department of Health Office
(3040 Umi Street, Lihue) on October 28, 2003 from 10am-2pm.
Hepatitis C is a serious liver disease that can cause cirrhosis
(scarring) of the liver, liver failure and liver cancer. The most
common symptom of hepatitis C is fatigue. However most infected people
show no recognizable signs or symptoms for many years, until severe
liver damage has occurred. The only way to know if you are infected is
through a simple blood test that will show results in approximately two
weeks.
Because Hepatitis C is contagious and can be spread from person to
person by direct exposure to infected blood or blood products, and
contaminated needles or other sharp objects, early detection is vital
to contain the spread of the disease.
Anyone can be infected with the hepatitis C virus. However, there
are risk factors that increase the chance of transmission. They
include:
- Having had a blood transfusion and/or received an organ transplant
before July 1992
- Having been or are currently on long term kidney dialysis
(hemodialysis)
- Receiving treatment with a clotting factor concentrate manufactured
before 1987
- Having ever injected illegal drugs, even once
- Having had sexual contact with multiple individuals over the course
of their lifetime
- Having been healthcare workers with exposure to blood from
hepatitis C infected person
- Having ever had a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Hepatitis C is the most serious form of hepatitis because it has the
most severe health risks and consequences, and unlike hepatitis A &
B, there is no preventative vaccine available. For additional
information on hepatitis C, visit the American Liver Foundation web
site at www.liverfoundation.org.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Peggy Hedden
Kauai District Health Office
Phone: (808) 241-3563
E-mail: mehedden@mail.health.state.hi.us
Laura M. Lott
Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 586-4418
E-mail: lmlott@mail.health.state.hi.us
|
